Endoscopic biopsy pathology of Helicobacter pylori gastritis. Comparison of bacterial detection by immunohistochemistry and Genta stain.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the endoscopic biopsy pathology of Helicobacter pylori gastritis, compare bacterial detection by immunohistochemistry using a specific antibody with the Genta stain, and to compare the relative costs of the 2 techniques.


METHODS
One hundred cases of gastritis identified as positive for H pylori by Genta stain and 100 cases considered negative by the same technique were stained using an anti-H pylori-specific polyclonal antibody. Laboratory reagent and labor costs for the 2 methods were compared.


RESULTS
Chronic active gastritis with lymphoid follicles was significantly associated with H pylori infection (P <.0001). The immunohistochemical method had a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 98% compared with the Genta stain, with strong agreement for grading density of organisms (kappa = 0.85; P <.001). Reagent costs were similar for both methods, but immunohistochemistry using an autoimmunostainer required less dedicated technical time and hence was less expensive than the Genta stain.


CONCLUSIONS
Immunohistochemistry using a specific antibody is an accurate and cost-effective method for H pylori detection in gastric biopsies.
Toulaymat
M
M
Department of Pathology, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA 01199, USA.
Marconi
S
S
Garb
J
J
Otis
C
C
Nash
S
S
D001706:Biopsy; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005756:Gastritis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D005773:Gastroscopy; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000473:pathology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000191:economics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000191:economics
D004396:Coloring Agents