Korean J Gastroenterol.  1998 Sep;32(3):313-319.

Detection of Helicobacter pylori with Polymerase Chain Reaction - Comparison with Rapid Urease Test , Culture and Histological Test -

• Park KN
• Kim TY
• Choi HS
• Park JY
• Han DS
• Jeon YC
• Hahm JS
• Lee YW
• Yoon BC
• Eun CS
• Mun GH
• Choi TY

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The detection of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) hoth before and after treatment is very important, but conventional methods to detect H. pylori are less specific. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay as a diagnostic method of H. pylori infection.
METHODS
One hundred ninety three patients were included in the study. Their biopsy specimens obtained from gastric antrum and body were submitted to PCR assay, rapid urease test (CLO test), culture, and histological examination.
RESULTS
Fifty eight percent (111 out of 193 patients) of the patients had H. pylori infection. The diagnostic sensitivity/specificity of PCR assay, rapid urease test, histological examination, and culture were 98.2%/95.1%, 95.5%/74,4%, 86.5%/98.8%, and 73.9%/100%, respectively. The positive predictive value/negative predictive value of PCR assay, rapid urease test, histological examination, and culture were 96.5%/97,5%, 83.5%/92.4%, 99%/84.4%, and 100%/73.9%, respectively. The highest sensitivity was achieved in the PCR assay, while the highest specificity was obtained in culture.
CONCLUSIONS
PCR assay was proved to be the most sensitive test with high specificity for the detection of H. pylori.

Keyword

Helicobacter pylori; Polymerase chain reaction; Peptic ulcer disease

MeSH Terms

Biopsy
Helicobacter pylori*
Helicobacter*
Humans
Polymerase Chain Reaction*
Pyloric Antrum
Sensitivity and Specificity
Urease*
Urease