Non-Invasive Detection of Helicobacter Pylori Infection- A Comparative Analytical Study: Moving Towards

The present study aimed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of serological testing in endoscopic Rapid Urease Test(RUT) positive H. pylori infections. The study included 50 participants, above the age of 18years, who attended Outpatient Department or were admitted in the tertiary a care hospital complaining dyspepsia and were positive for H. pylori on endoscopic RUT. Those patients who were found positive were subjected to serological testing for H. pylori infection by card test (Immunochromatography method). The results of RUT biopsy and serological testing were compared. Among the 50 patients enrolled in the study, 62% (n=31) were males while 38% (n=19) were females ( Male to Female ratio 1.63:1). Majority of patients belonged to the age group, 31 to 60years (50%, n=25). Sixty percent (n=30) of the patients belonged to upper-lower class according to the Kuppuswamy’s scale. Out of the 50 patients who were positive for H. pylori on RUT assay, 84% (n=42) came out to be positive on Immunochromatography. Thus, keeping RUT assay as the reference test, the sensitivity of immunochromatography was found to be 84%.There was a significant association found between between age and the positivity of immunochromatography (p value 0.03). The ICT used in this study is commercially available, inexpensive, and easy to perform. Positive predictive value of 84% implies that the test could be used to identify H. pylori infections in patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Attributed to the rapidity of test results, clinical decisions regarding patient care could be made during the visit.