Stool Antigen Test for the Diagnosis of Helicobacter Pylori Infection in Children

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To study the value of a newly developed and non invasive test, the Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) stool antigen (HpSA) test, in the diagnosis of H.pylori infection in children. METHODS: A commercial kit using ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) detected HpSA in the stools of 48 children with symptoms of the upper digestive tract. The detection results of the HpSA test were compared with the biopsy urease test, histology test and serology test. RESULTS: The diagnostic accuracy of the 4 tests for H. pylori infection was as follows: stool antigen test 95.8% , biopsy urease test 95.9% , histology test 97.9% , and serology test 83.7% . The specificity and sensitivity of the HpSA test for the diagnosis of H.pylori infection was 100% and 93.6% , respectively.CONCLUSIONS: The HpSA test for the diagnosis of H.pylori infection, being highly accurate, sensitive and specific, is a simple, reliable and non invasive method.