Utility of Rapid urease test in diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the role of rapid urease test in diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection in various gastro intestinal lesions vis a vis conventional and special staining methods.

Materials & Methods: This hospital based cross sectional study was conducted on 50 cases with gastro intestinal lesions.  The obtained biopsies were then subjected to rapid urease test for detection of H. pylori by using the Pronto Dry Kit immediately. Further histopathology examination using conventional H & E (haematoxylin and eosin) stain and special Gimenez stain for H. pylori was done.

Results: In this study gender wise distribution of patients showed 58% males and 42% females. Chronic gastritis was found to be the most common diagnosis (28%), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (20%) chronic inflammation (16%), H. pylori gastritis and adenocarcinoma stomach (6%), adenocarcinoma esophagus, dysplasia, erosion, esophagitis and perforation in 4%. Least common diagnosis was atrophic gastritis and carcinoid in 2%. We found that 26 cases were positive for H. pylori with Rapid urease test and 24 with special stain (Gimenez).

Conclusion: This study amalgamates and incorporates the valuable clinical assessment along with the endoscopic findings, the surgical pathological (histopathology) evaluation of the biopsies along with the proto dry kit (rapid urease test), as a kind of “Gastric Triple Test” for declaring the patients as positive or negative for pathogenic infection with Helicobacter pylori.