ABSTRACT
The rapid urease test is an accurate and cheap method, which results are readily available, and broadly used for routine Helicobacter pylori infection diagnosis. AIM: The evaluation of rapid urease test stored in refrigerator at 4 degrees C (SRUT) compared to regular rapid urease test. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Endoscopic biopsies were obtained from gastric antrum in 104 consecutive patients. Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection was accomplished by rapid urease test, histology and rapid urease test stored (kept in refrigerator by a period ranging from 1 to 8 days). RESULTS: Infection was considered present if both rapid urease test and histology were positive. Helicobacter pylori was present in 45/104 patients (42 per cent). Rapid urease test stored had specificity comparable to rapid urease test (93 per cent), with sensitivity of 88 per cent. CONCLUSION: We concluded that rapid urease test can be stored in refrigerator for up to 1 week, without loss of clinical applicability, and that can make the test even easier to use for routine Helicobacter pylori tests in a busy endoscopy unit