On-site diagnosis of H-pylori infection by urine

We have recently developed an on-site diagnostic kit for H. pylori infectio n using urine (utilizing immunochromatographic method employing a nitrocell ulose membrane coated by extracted H. pylori antigen). Accordingly, we inve stigated its usefulness in 155 consecutive dyspeptic patients using the C-1 3 urea breath test as a gold standard and further compared its performance with two commercially available rapid diagnostic kits that use whole blood (Helisal Rapid Blood(TM), and ImmunoCard H. pylori(TM)). As the results, th e urine based on-site diagnostic kit provided 95.9% sensitivity and 87.9% s pecificity with 92.9% accuracy, which were comparable or even better than t hat of both rapid whole blood tests, suggesting its usefulness in screening of H. pylori infection. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved .