Tests for Detection of H. pylori

Tests for Detection of H. pylori

Test	Sensitivity/Specificity, %
Invasive (Endoscopy/Biopsy Required)
Rapid urease	80–95/95–100	Simple, false negative with recent use of PPIs, antibiotics, or bismuth compounds
Histology	80–90/>95	Requires pathology processing and staining; provides histologic information
Culture	—/—	Time-consuming, expensive, dependent on experience; allows determination of antibiotic susceptibility
Non-invasive
Serology	>80/>90	Inexpensive, convenient; not useful for early follow-up
Urea breath test	>90/>90	Simple, rapid; useful for early follow-up; false negatives with recent therapy (see rapid urease test); exposure to low-dose radiation with 14C test
Stool antigen	>90/>90	Inexpensive, convenient; not established for eradication but promising