Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) stool/tissue antigen assay

Indications

• H pylori infection
  • follow-up to evaluate success of H pylori treatment
• iron-deficiency anemia resistant to oral iron

Principle

• immunoassay for detecting H pylori antigen in feces

Sensitivity: 94%

Specificity: 86%

Clinical significance

• useful for assessing eradication of H pylori 4 weeks post treatment

Sensitivity: 90%

Specificity: 95%

• false negatives may occur with:
  • recent gastrointestinal bleeding
  • use of proton pump inhibitor* of H2 antagonists*
  • antibiotics or bismuth-containing compounds

Notes

• consider H pylori serology in patients on therapy with proton pump inhibitor or H2 blocker or with recent gastrointestinal bleeding

Meridien Diagnostics, Inc Cincinnati OH

More general terms

• Helicobacter pylori antigen