Abstract:
Recently Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has been involved in many serious diseases such as peptic ulcer and ended with gastric cancer, which can be prevented using specific diagnostic test and treatment.
This study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of urease test in the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in patients with gastritis.
Fifty consecutive adult patients with gastritis presenting for endoscopy were recruited after giving informed consent. Two gastric biopsies were collected at endoscopy unit for Urease test and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).
Sensitivity, specificity, of urease test was calculated using PCR as reference standard.
Of the 50 subjects, there were 25 (50%) positive by urease test, 26 (52%) positive by PCR (polymerase chain reaction). And 25 (50%) negative by urease, 24 (48%) negative by PCR. The sensitivity, specificity, of urease test were 84.6% and 87.5% respectively.
Statisitical analysis showed no relation between gender, age or symptoms with H.pylori 16S rRNA gene detection
Compared with PCR, urease test is simpler, it gives more rapid test result and it is much cheaper. Practically overcomes these drawbacks since it is not dependent on the experience and accuracy of individual laboratories as in the case of other biopsy based methods.