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A comparison of diagnostic tests to determine Helicobacter pylori infection
Author(s) -
LIN S. K.,
LAMBERT J. R.,
SCHEMBRI M.,
NICHOLSON L.,
FINLAY M.,
WONG C.,
COULEPIS A.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1746.1992.tb00963.x
Subject(s) - medicine , rapid urease test , serology , helicobacter pylori , gastroenterology , breath test , biopsy , gastritis , histology , histopathology , spirillaceae , endoscopy , antrum , pathology , antibody , stomach , immunology
Twenty‐five Helicobacter pylori positive and 25 H. pylori negative subjects as defined by culture and phase contrast microscopy of antral biopsy specimens obtained from routine upper endoscopy were studied. Antral biopsies were examined by rapid urease test, phase contrast microscopy, culture and histology. Venous blood was tested for H. pylori specific IgG antibodies by an ELISA technique. Within 7 days of endoscopy the patients also had a [ 14 C]‐urea breath test. The sensitivity and specificity of the rapid urease test was 92%, the breath test 96% and 100%, histopathology 96% and 91% and serology 96% and 88%, respectively. The [ 14 C]‐urea breath test performed over 1 h with sampling of subjects at 0, 0.5 and 1 h was an accurate and reliable method. Results expressed as counts per minute of the expired 14 CO 2 proved to be a simple method of assessing H. pylori status. A significant correlation between severity of histological antral gastritis and the amount of 14 CO 2 expired was observed. This study has shown that the non‐invasive 14 C‐urea breath test and serology are highly sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection.