Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection. Review of diagnostic techniques and recommendations for their use in different clinical settings.

Abstract

Multiple diagnostic tests are available for determining the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection. Some tests rely on endoscopy while others are non-invasive. The accuracy of a test depends on the clinical situation in which it is used. Most tests have been evaluated in untreated individuals, while few studies have investigated their performance post-treatment when bacterial counts might be low. In this overview we first discuss the different diagnostic techniques available to the clinician, and their value in the pre-treatment and post-treatment settings. Finally, we discuss the patient management-related question that arise in several clinical settings and recommend when to use which tests and why.