RAPID SEROLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI - A NEED FOR CAUTION AND REEVALUATION

Screening for Helicobacter pylori in dyspeptic patients may improve se lectivity for gastroscopy, Rapid serological tests based on ELISA tech nique are cheap, readily available and simple to use in the clinical s etting. However local evaluation is essential in order to validate the se techniques. Fifty-six dyspeptic patients (aged less than 45 yr) had a rapid serological test (Helisal) performed prior to gastroscopy, At gastroscopy H. pylori status was assessed using culture and histology , The Helisal sensitivity was 80 per cent, specificity 82 per cent. Sc reening patients with the Helisal test would have missed 6 patients wi th peptic ulcer disease and 2 with oesophagitis, The Helisal test did not perform satisfactorily as a screening test in selection of patient s for gastroscopy.