Review
New techniques in medicine
Non-invasive testing for Helicobacter
pylori
Margaret A Stone
Gastrointestinal
Research Unit, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK
Correspondence to: Mrs MA Stone, c/o Dr J F Mayberry, Gastrointestinal Research Unit, Leicester General Hospital NHS Trust, Gwendolen Road, Leicester LE5 4PW, UK
Accepted 2 November
1998
Confirmed and potential benefits of eradicating
Helicobacter pylori have led to the
development of a range of diagnostic tests. As well as techniques using
biopsy tissue obtained during endoscopy, a number of non-invasive tests
are now available. These may be appropriate for pre-endoscopy screening
of younger dyspeptics, for use in research, particularly
epidemiological surveys, to confirm successful eradication after
treatment, and possibly in the future for screening in asymptomatic
populations. Serology requiring laboratory analysis is likely to be the
least expensive option, particularly suitable for testing large
numbers, while urea breath tests should yield the most accurate results
and are appropriate for confirming successful eradication since only
current infection is detected. The performance of near-patient tests
can lack consistency, but these may be useful for small numbers and where other non-invasive testing is unavailable. Tests should be used
with an awareness of their potential limitations in terms of accuracy.
Keywords: Helicobacter pylori
© 1999 by The Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine
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