title: Accuracy of the 14C-urea breath test for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The development of simple, accurate and low-expense techniques for detection of Helicobacter pylori infection has great relevance.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the accuracy of a rapid 14C-urea breath test (UBT) employing a very simple device for breathed air collection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital das Clínicas of the Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and thirty-seven adult patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in the Clinical Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Histology for Helicobacter pylori (HP); urease test; urea breath test (UBT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and fifteen patients were infected by HP (HP+) according to both histology and the urease test, and 22 patients were HP-negative (HP-), according to the same two tests. UBT was capable of discriminating between HP+ and HP- in a way that was similar to the combination of urease test and histology. When this combination of results is taken as the "gold standard" for HP infection, the sensitivity and specificity of UBT are both greater than 90% for a range of cut-off points and breathed air collection times.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rapid UBT employing a simple device for air collection has a high accuracy in determining HP infection.
authors.affiliation: Hospital das Clinicas, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Thereza Britto
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Luciano Kowalsky
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Secaf
authors.forename: José Luiz Pimenta
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Módena
authors.forename: Luiz Ernesto de Almeida
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Troncon
authors.forename: Ricardo Brandt de
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Oliveira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism; D014510:Urease / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D014508:Urea; D014510:Urease