title: Non-invasive tests for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection.
abstract: Helicobacter pylori infection can be diagnosed by invasive techniques requiring endoscopy and biopsy (eg, histological examination, culture, polymerase chain reaction) and by non-invasive techniques such as serology, urea breath test, urine/blood test, or detection of H. pylori antigen in stool specimen. Some non-invasive tests, such as the urea breath test and the stool antigen test, detect active infection; these are called "active tests." Non-invasive tests (eg, serology) are markers of exposure to H. pylori but do not indicate if active infection is ongoing; these are called "passive tests." Non-invasive test-and-treat strategies are widely recommended in primary care settings. The choice of an appropriate test depends on the pre-test probability of infection, the characteristics of the test being used, and the cost-effectiveness of the test. This article reviews available non-invasive tests.
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin Medical School, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
authors.forename: Nimish
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vakil
authors.forename: Dino
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vaira
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001944:Breath Tests; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000191:economics; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial