Detection of Helicobacter Pyloriby PCR on Gastric Biopsy Specimens Taken for CP Test: Comparison with Histopathological Analysis

The aims of the present study were: (i) to assess whether H. pyloricould be succesfully detected by PCR from the same biopsy sample used for CPtest; and ii) to evaluate CPtest comparatively to both PCR and histology for detection of H. pyloriinfection in dyspeptic patients. Three antral gastric biopsies were collected from each of 80 consecutive dyspeptic patients undergoing oesophagogastroduodenoscopy. Two biopsies were for histology (gold standard), one for CPtest, scored at 20min, 1h and 24h for the presence of urease activity. Gastric biopsy was then removed from CPtest and used for ureC-targeted PCR. Fifty-five (68.7%) patients were positive for H. pyloriinfection by histology. CPtest yielded an overall diagnostic accuracy of 93.8% (95% CI: 91–96.4%), regardless of observation period. No erroneous categorization of H. pyloristatus occurred using PCR, yielding sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and overall diagnostic accuracy of 100%. Our results suggest that H. pylorican be detected by PCR in gastric biopsies previously taken for CPtest, so reducing the workload of the endoscopist by saving additional biopsies for culture analysis and susceptibility tests.