El. Young et al., PROSPECTIVE EVALUATION OF A NEW UREA-MEMBRANE TEST FOR THE DETECTION OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI IN GASTRIC ANTRAL TISSUE, Gastrointestinal endoscopy, 44(5), 1996, pp. 527-531
Aim: To determine the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negat
ive predictive values of a newly developed urea-membrane test for the
detection of Helicobacter pylori in gastric tissue. Methods: Patients
presenting for upper endoscopy with no recent exposure to H. pylori-al
tering drugs were enrolled. Antral biopsy specimens were tested by the
urea-membrane and urea-gel methods and submitted for histology. Patie
nts underwent [C-13]urea breath tests. Presence of H. pylori was estab
lished by histology or the combination of a positive [C-13]urea breath
test and a positive urea-gel test. Absence of H. pylori required both
the [C-13]urea breath test and the invasive tests to be negative. The
urea-membrane test was reported at 1 hour. Results: Ninety-nine patie
nts (47 men and 52 women) with a mean age of 51.43 +/- 14.9 years part
icipated. Fifty of 99 patients (prevalence, 50.5%) tested positive for
H. pylori. The urea-membrane test correctly identified 49 of 50 H. py
lori-positive and 46 of 49 H. pylori-negative patients, yielding sensi
tivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of 98
.0%, 93.9%, and 94.2% and 97.9%, respectively, in this population. Con
clusions: Rapidly available and reliable results from the urea-membran
e test can facilitate clinical decision prior to patient discharge fro
m the endoscopy suite.