A comparison of two rapid whole-blood tests and laboratory serology, in the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection

Objective To compare two rapid whole-blood serology tests for Helicobacter pylori and a laboratory serology assay against a gold standard, Design Prospective comparison of tests in 81 patients, Setting A hospital rapid access endoscopy clinic. Participants Dyspeptic patients requiring assessment of H. pylori status. Interventions Measurement of H. pylori antibody status by Quickvue One-step , Helisal, and Premier ii, pylori test; C-13 urea breath test for H. pylori , and gastric biopsies for histology, culture and rapid urease test, Main outcome measure Sensitivity and specificity of Quickvue One-step, Heli sal and Premier tests, compared to a gold standard based on C-13 urea breat h test, biopsy culture, histology and urease test. Results The Quickvue assay has significantly greater sensitivity (81%) than Helisal (67%), but without appreciable loss of specificity (86% and 93%, r espectively). The Premier laboratory assay is significantly more sensitive than both of the rapid blood tests (96%), with comparable specificity to th e Quickvue assay, Conclusion The rapid serology tests used in this study are quick and conven ient to use, but do not approach the sensitivity of a laboratory assay in d etecting ii, pylori status in this group of dyspeptic patients attending an endoscopy clinic. fur I Gastroenterol Hepatol 11:863-865 (C) 1999 Lippinco tt Williams & Wilkins.