Comparison and Detection of Helicobacter pylori in Stool Specimens by use Polymerase Chain Reaction technique and immunochromatographic assay

Abstract

There are several types of immunological tests available for the diagnosis and management of Helicobacter pylori infection. Most commercially available serological kits use the immunochromatographic assay, and has been developed for the detection of Helicobacter pylori in faeces as well as the polymerase chain reaction for the same purpose. The aim of the study is therefore to detect H. pylori from the stool of patients by PCR and compare results obtained with ICT. A total of 42 stool samples from patients presenting were screened for immunochromatographic assay (ICT) and the presence of H. pylori DNA using stool-PCR. Out of 42 stool samples analyzed, 31 (73.8%) were positive for Helicobacter pylori in ICT and 20 (47.61%) positive for H. pylori by PCR, through amplification of cagA samples and VacA genes respectively. the cagA gene was detected in 12 (38.7%) and VacA was detected in 8(25.8) samples. The sensitivity and specificity of the cag A gene compared with ICT is 38.7% and 100% respectively while of the VacA genes compared with ICT is 25.8% and 100% respectively. It is concluded that PCR may be useful for the diagnosis of H. pylori from stool in comparison with Immunochromatographic.