COMPARISON OF 3 UREASE TESTS FOR DETECTION OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI IN GASTRIC BIOPSY SPECIMENS

Objective: To propose two modified urease tests for the detection of H elicobacter pylori in gastric biopsy specimens. Patients and methods: The presence of H. pylori infection was determined in 237 patients und ergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Three media were used for th e urease tests: Christensen's 2% urea broth and two urea agar media, m odified by increasing the concentration of urea (to 4% and 10%) and ph enol red and omitting the nutrients. Results: The modified tests had g ood sensitivity (> 78%), specificity (96%) and accuracy (greater than or equal to 86%) at 2 h using small amounts (15%) of biopsy homogenate s. They were statistically more sensitive and accurate than Christense n's broth. Conclusion: Both the modified 4% and 10% urea agar tests ar e simple, sensitive and specific and can be performed with small amoun ts of sample.