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Evaluation of a rapid urease test to detect Campylobacter pylori infection.

Section of Infectious Diseases, Marshall University School of Medicine, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Huntington, West Virginia 25701-5490.

ABSTRACT

Seventy-five consecutive patients referred for upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy were evaluated for Campylobacter pylori infection by pathology, culture, and a biochemical test to detect bacterial urease. Forty-eight patients (64%) had C. pylori present based on pathology or culture or both. Thirty-two urease tests were positive after 1 h, all in patients with C. pylori detected by the two other methods (specificity, 100%; sensitivity, 67%). After 24 h, 47 urease tests were positive, but only 40 had C. pylori present (specificity, 74%; sensitivity, 83%). When read after 1 h, the urease test was highly specific and led to rapid presumptive diagnosis.

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• Walsh, J. H., Peterson, W. L. (1995). The Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection in the Management of Peptic Ulcer Disease. NEJM 333: 984-991 [Full Text]