[Possible availability of rapid urease tests for diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori eradication: comparative study with culture and histology].
Rapid urease tests (RUTs) are simple and economical methods to detect Helicobacter pylori infection. However, they have been thought to be unreliable to confirm successful eradication of the infection following treatment. We reviewed the efficiency of RUTs and investigated their possible indication for use after eradication therapy. The sensitivity of highly sensitive RUTs seemed to be comparable to that of culture regardless of the timing for testing, but remarkably lower than that of histology within a few months after treatment. Highly sensitive RUTs, used several months after therapy, produced excellent accuracy, suggesting that they might be available to confirm successful treatment, taking cost and time factors into consideration.
First Department of Medicine, Osaka University School of Medicine.
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Murata
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Tsuji
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Kawano
D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000201:enzymology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D014510:Urease / Q000032:analysis*
D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D014510:Urease