Diagnostic accuracy of three monoclonal stool tests in a large series of untreated Helicobacter pylori infected patients.

OBJECTIVES:Immunochromatographic tests need to be improved in order to enhance their reliability. Recently, several new kits have appeared on the market. The objective was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of three monoclonal rapid stool tests - the new Uni-Gold™ H.pylori Antigen (Trinity Biotech, Ireland), the RAPID Hp StAR (Oxoid Ltd., UK) and the ImmunoCard STAT! HpSA (Meridian Diagnostics, USA) - for detecting H. pylori infection prior to eradication treatment. DESIGN AND METHODS:Diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity and specificity) and reliability (concordance between observers) were evaluated in 250 untreated consecutive dyspeptic patients. The gold standard for diagnosing H. pylori infection was defined as the concordance of two or more of rapid urease test (RUT), histopathology and urease breath test (UBT) or positive culture in isolation. Readings of immunochromatographic tests were performed by two different observers. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Sensitivity and specificity were compared using the McNemar test. RESULTS:The three tests showed a good correlation, with Kappa values>0.9. RAPID Hp StAR had a sensitivity of 91%-92% and a specificity ranging from 77% to 85%. Its sensitivity was higher than that of Uni-Gold™ H.pylori Antigen and ImmunoCard STAT! HpSA (p<0.01). Uni-Gold™ H.pylori Antigen kit showed a sensitivity of 83%, similar to ImmunoCard STAT! HpSA. Specificity of Uni-Gold™ H.pylori Antigen approached 90% (87-89%) and was superior to that of RAPID Hp StAR (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS:Uni-Gold™ H.pylori Antigen and ImmunoCard STAT! HpSA present similar levels of diagnostic accuracy. RAPID Hp StAR was the most sensitive but less reliable of the three immunochromatographic stool tests. None are as accurate and reliable as UBT, RUT and histology.