POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION ASSAY FOR THE DETECTION OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI IN GASTRIC BIOPSY SPECIMENS - COMPARISON WITH CULTURE, RAPID UREASE TEST, AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL TESTS

Ulcer recurrence is probably related to residual Helicobacter pylori ( H pylori). Histological examination and. culture are considered to be the most specific tests. CLO test is a rapid but less specific test, w hich is usually used as an alternative test to culture. The aim of thi s study was to investigate the efficiency of a simplified polymerase c hain reaction (PCR) assay as a procedure for the diagnosis of gastric H pylori infection of patients. Biopsy specimens were obtained from an tral mucosa of 58 patients at endoscopy and submitted to four tests fo r detection of H pylori. The bacteria were found in 53%, 43%, 48%, and 50% of patients according to the results of PCR, CLO test, culture, a nd histological examination. Twenty three patients had both negative h istology and negative culture and PCR was negative in all of these. Th irteen patients were not classified because only histology or culture was positive and 10 of these had a positive PCR test. When the diagnos is of H pylori was established by agreement with both histology and cu lture or three positive tests out of four, 29 patients were H pylori p ositive (28 having had three positive tests and one displaying positiv e histology and culture), and 26 were negative, and three undetermined . PCR proved the most sensitive and specific test. These results sugge st the simplified PCR assay may be a valuable test for the detection o f H pylori.