Rapid Urease Test to Diagnose Helicobacter Pylori Infection

ABSTRACT

Helicobacter pylori, a common cause of peptic ulcer, may also lead to gastric mucosa associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma and gastric adenocarcinoma. A study was done for 17 months from 1st January 2004 to 31st May 2005. Rapid Urease Test (RUT) and microscopy were performed on endoscopic gastric biopsy material obtained from 302 patients suspected to have peptic ulcer. Thirty three (10.93%) specimens were positive by RUT and 25 of those were positive by microscopy. RUT, having high sensitivity (90- 95%) and cent per cent specificity, and also being simple cheap, rapid and convenient to perform, can be done in all the microbiology laboratories. Rapid diagnosis of H.Pylori by RUT helps the patients in effective treatment.