Tests for Detection of H. Pylori
| Test | Sensitivity/Specificity, % | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Invasive (endoscopy/biopsy required) | ||
| Rapid urease | 80-95/95-100 | Simple, false negative with recent use of PPIs, antibiotics, or bismuth compounds |
| Histology | 80-90/>95 | Requires pathology processing and staining; provides histologic information |
| Culture | —/— | Time consuming, expensive, dependent on experience; allows determination of antibiotic susceptibility |
| Noninvasive | ||
| Serology | >80/>90 | Inexpensive, convenient; not useful for early follow-up |
| Urea breath test | >90/>90 | Simple, rapid; useful for early follow-up; false negatives with recent therapy (see rapid urease test); exposure to low-dose radiation with 14C test |
| Stool antigen | >90/>90 | Inexpensive, convenient; not established for eradication but promising |
Abbreviation: PPIs, proton pump inhibitors.