How to test for Helicobacter pylori infection?

Currently, there are five laboratory methods commonly used to detect Helicobacter pylori (HP).

1. Rapid urease test: HP is rich in urease, and it is the main source of urease in the stomach. Urease decomposes urea into ammonia. Add phenol red indicator to the reaction solution, and judge whether it is infected according to the color change HP, the specificity of this method is 98% to 100%, the operation is simple, the cost is low, and it is a commonly used test method in clinical practice.

2. Staining of mucosal tissue: HP settles on the surface of epithelial cells. After the mucosal tissue is properly stained, it is a reliable method to identify whether there is HP infection according to its morphological characteristics under a light microscope.

3. Cultivation: The growth of HP is slow, nutrient-rich medium, suitable temperature, humidity and pH value, and a micro-aerobic environment are needed. Once the bacteria grows, HP infection can be diagnosed. If there is no HP, it cannot be completely ruled out. possibility of infection.

4. Breath test: 13C or 14C-labeled urea is ingested into the stomach. If there is HP in the stomach, the urea is decomposed into ammonia and 13CO2 or 14CO2. After the isotope-labeled CO2 is absorbed by the intestine, it is exhaled through the lungs. in vitro. Therefore, by analyzing the amount of 13CO2 or 14CO2 in the exhaled breath, it is possible to determine whether there is HP in the stomach. This method requires a mass spectrometer, is expensive, and is limited in widespread use.

5. Determination of serum anti-Helicobacter pylori antibodies: At present, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is mostly used because of its high sensitivity, specificity and stability. If HP is radically cured, the anti-Helicobacter pylori antibody content in serum will gradually decrease; if HP is not radically cured, the anti-Helicobacter pylori antibody level in serum will not decrease. Therefore, the significance of detecting anti-Helicobacter pylori antibody in serum, In addition to being used for epidemiological investigations, it can also be used to judge the effect of treatment.