Comparison of different diagnostic methods of Helicobacter pylori infection in Sudanese patients

Abstract

This study aimed at comparing a PCR method of direct detection from biopsy and two other methods: culture and (campylobacter like organism) CLO test for the diagnosis of H. pylori in Sudan. A total of 100 biopsies were taken from 100 patients presenting with various gastro-duodenal symptoms after obtaining an informed consent. The biopsies were analyzed using the culture method, CLO test kit and the PCR test using the 23S rRNA gene (Jene bioscience kits). With culture 48% (48 out of 100) were positive, CLO test 53% (53 of 100) were positive, 58 out of 100(58%) were patients by using PCR. Sensitivity and specificity of culture technique was (78%) and (94%) respectively while PCR showed a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 75% and CLO test showed (96% & 86.5%) for sensitivity and specificity when culture was the golden method and (88%, 95%) when PCR was the golden method. The PCR test appears to be the most reliable test for diagnosis of H. pylori in Sudan especially where culture is difficult.

Keywords: Helicobacter pylori, biopsies, PCR, CLO test, culture.