Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is associated very strongly with peptic ulcer disease (duodenal and gastric) and chronic active gastritis. H. pylori is also an independent risk factor for gastric cancer and primary malignant lymphoma of the stomach. The infection can be treated successfully with a combination of three drugs for 10 to 14 days. This method detects H. pylori antigen in stool specimens and can be used for diagnosis or therapeutic monitoring.
Reference Range: H. pylori Antigen: Not Detected
Interpretive Information
A positive result (antigen detected) is indicative of H. pylori presence (96% sensitivity); however some individuals may have H. pylori antigen but no disease. A negative result (antigen not detected) indicates absence of H. pylori or an antigenic level below the assay limit of detection (184 ng H. pylori protein/ml of stool) (96% specificity). False negative results may be obtained on specimens from patients who have ingested selected compounds (antimicrobials, proton pump inhibitors, Bismuth preparations) within the two weeks prior to specimen collection. In populations with disease prevalence ranging from 34% to 69% (average 52%), the positive and negative predictive values were 96%.