title: Non-invasive techniques for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection.
abstract: Helicobacter pylori infection can be diagnosed by invasive techniques requiring endoscopy and biopsy (histologic examination, culture, polymerase chain reaction), and non-invasive techniques (serology, urea breath test, urine or blood, detection of H. pylori antigen in stool specimen). However, recent studies have demonstrated that a strategy of 'testing and treating' for H. pylori in uninvestigated, young (<50 years), dyspeptic patients in primary care is safe and reduces the need for endoscopy. Indeed, a number of clinical guidelines recommend non-invasive testing in dyspeptic patients followed by treatment of H. pylori in primary care based on clinical and economic analyses. Several non-invasive tests are currently available on the market. The choice depends on the clinical circumstances, the likelihood ratio of positive and negative tests, the cost-effectiveness of the testing strategy, and, finally, the availability of the tests. Nevertheless, two non-invasive tests are commonly used: the urea breath test, and the stool antigen test.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Nuove Patologie, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gatta
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tampieri
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vaira
mesh_terms: D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000652:urine; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans