Deutsch 
Test-Category
ELISA
Pack size
96 Tests
Possible sample matrix and volumes
| Stool | 100 mg |
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a spiral-shaped bacterium that can be found in the human stomach and duodenum. In order to be able to survive in the extremely acid environment of the stomach, H. pylori bacteria produce urease which in turn metabolises urea into bicarbonate and ammonia. Particularly, the highly corrosive ammonia affects the gastric mucosa adversely and might cause severe damage.
Besides a possible gastritis, an H. pylori infection could eventually lead to a duodenal ulcer or a gastric tumour, resulting from the persisting immune response to the infection.
Traditional diagnosis of an H. pylori infection requires invasive measures such as gastroscopy and biopsy, which for most patients are rather burdensome. Alternatively, the 13C-urease breath test or measuring H. pylori antibodies in serum provides information on a possible H. pylori infection. Serology, however, is not suitable for a follow-up examination due to the slow reduction of the anti-H. pylori antibody titer after successful treatment (Cutler et al. 1996).
Since infected individuals excrete H. pylori in stool specimen, an active infection can be detected by detecting H. pylori antigen in stool. A successful eradication can be confirmed with a negative result at least 6 to 8 weeks following completion of therapy (Costa et al. 2001)
