Analysis of feces for Helicobacter pylori. Proper fecal analysis What is handed over for Helicobacter pylori

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract represent a large group of diseases caused not only by improper and irregular nutrition, but also by the well-known bacterium Helicobacter pylori, which refers to anaerobic microbes that affect the intestinal mucosa and duodenum. Infection with this bacterium mainly occurs by contact - household way., because in the air the bacterium does not retain its vital activity.

According to medical research, it has been found that almost every 3rd person is a carrier of this bacterium, but does not experience specific symptoms. The reason for this phenomenon is considered to be predisposing factors that affect the activation of bacteria: smoking, drinking alcohol, unhealthy diet and others that lead to disruption of the intestines. Helicobacter pylori disrupts the structure and functioning of the gastric mucosa, causing inflammatory processes in it and the development of various gastroenterological diseases.

To determine the presence or absence of a bacterium in the intestinal mucosa, an analysis for Helicobacter pylori will help, which makes it possible to get a general idea of \u200b\u200bthe microbe itself, to identify its current activity in the intestinal mucosa and duodenum.

The Helicobacter pylori test is a laboratory test of blood, feces, or a breath test. By choosing one of the examination methods, you can determine the presence or absence of bacteria in the lower sections of the stomach or duodenum.

What diseases are caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori?

There are a number of diseases that can be caused by the Helicobacter pylori bacterium, but in any case, timely diagnosis and the result of the analysis will help stop the disease in the early stages of its development, and prevent all kinds of complications.

At the moment, it has been proven that most intestinal diseases develop as a result of the aggressiveness of the Helicobacter bacterium, including:

gastritis of acute or chronic form;
gastroduodenitis;
stomach ulcer;
duodenal ulcer;
erosion of the stomach;
stomach cancer.

To prevent the development of the above diseases, thereby maintaining health, timely diagnosis will help, which is prescribed by a doctor when there are complaints of pain or discomfort in the intestines. An integral part of the diagnosis of the stomach is the analysis for Helicobacter pylori, which is carried out in the laboratory, does not require special preparation, and its positive result allows the doctor to study the disease picture in more detail, identify the cause, and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

Indications for the appointment of an analysis for Helicobacter pylori

An analysis for Helicobacter pylori is prescribed to patients by a gastroenterologist when the following symptoms appear:

pain in the stomach of varying intensity;
heartburn;
feeling of heaviness in the intestines;
regular violation of the chair;
hereditary predisposition to stomach cancer;
sour belching;
disturbance or lack of appetite.

There are several methods of examination for Helicobacter pylori, each of which allows you to detect antibodies to this bacterium.

ELISA method for the determination of the bacterium Helicobacter

An analysis for Helicobacter pylori includes a study of the patient's blood in the laboratory. Thanks to this analysis, antibodies to bacteria can be detected in the patient's blood. Immunoglobulins in the patient's blood can be detected 3 weeks after infection with Helicobacter pylori.

If a high level of IgG to Helicobacter is detected, this means that the immune system has recognized the bacterium. In cases where the analysis of blood plasma did not determine antibodies, their number is normal, the result of the analysis is negative. If the amount of antibodies exceeds the permissible norm, in the conclusion the doctor indicates "the analysis for antibodies to Helicobacter pylori is positive." Blood sampling for analysis for Helicobacter pylori is taken from a vein in a laboratory.

In order for the result of the examination to be as accurate as possible, the patient on the eve of the examination needs to properly prepare for blood donation:

3-4 days before the analysis, fatty and spicy foods should be excluded from the diet.
Quit smoking if possible.
You need to take an analysis on an empty stomach.

The result of the examination may be affected by taking certain medications, so if a person is taking any medications, you need to tell the doctor.

It is not recommended to conduct a blood test for Helicobacter pylori after other laboratory tests. You can get the result within a few days after the test.

A transcript issued by a laboratory employee will allow the doctor to determine the presence or absence of bacteria in the body. In cases where the IgG norm is set for Helicobacter pylori, no treatment is carried out, but a doctor may prescribe a special diet or maintenance therapy.

Breath test for Helicobacter pylori

A breath test for the Helicobacter bacterium is carried out using a special tube. Initially, the patient breathes into a tube, then he is given a solution of urea to drink and re-breath into the tube. If, after the passed test, changes in the color of the test indicators are noted, this means that the bacterium is still present in the body. In deciphering the test, the doctor indicates a positive result for the bacteria.

This test should be done in the morning. Before passing it, you need to refuse to eat for 8-12 hours..

You can drink a small amount of water. Some medications can distort the result of the breath test, so the patient should tell the doctor which medications were taken the day before the test.

Examination of feces for Helicobacter pylori antigen

The most convenient and completely painless is the analysis of feces for Helicobacter pylori. Such an examination is carried out using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR), more often used for children or seriously ill patients. The accuracy of the result is 95%. This type of examination requires special training, which consists of:

Antibiotics should be stopped 1 month before the analysis.
3 days before the examination, coarse fiber and coloring foods should not be consumed.
For a week, you will have to abandon drugs that increase intestinal motility.
Stool collection is carried out in the morning.
Feces are collected in a special sterile container and must be delivered to the laboratory on the same day.

Observing all these rules, you can get the most accurate result for the presence or absence of bacteria in the intestinal mucosa. The presence of blood, urine, mucus in the feces can lead to distortion of the results. Therefore, if the patient has a history of bowel disease, for which there is a characteristic stool mixed with biomaterials, he will most likely be assigned another type of examination for the Helicobacter bacterium.

After passing the test for Helicobacter pylori, the patient will receive results within a few days, the decoding of which will confirm or refute the presence of bacteria in the intestinal mucosa.

In the conclusion of the laboratory assistant, you can see the following results:

Negative IgG result- Helicobacter bacterium is absent in the body, but the mucous membrane is damaged and the risk of developing gastroenterological diseases is quite high.
Positive IgG result- the bacterium is present in the intestinal mucosa. In such cases, the patient may be assigned additional studies, since the risk of developing peptic ulcer or stomach cancer is quite high.
Negative IgM result- the bacterium is completely absent in the body.
Positive IgM result- an early stage in the development of any disease caused by a bacterium.
Negative IgA result- an early stage of infection with a bacterium or a period of recovery. Usually in such cases, the norm or a slight deviation from it is shown.
Positive IgA result- infection with a bacterium is present, a person requires immediate treatment.

The decoding of the analysis may contain other information on the condition of the intestinal mucosa, possible inflammation in the gastric mucosa. The result of the examination should be considered by a gastroenterologist individually for each patient.

Advantages and disadvantages

The analysis for Helicobacter pylori has its advantages and disadvantages.

The benefits include:

high efficiency of the analysis (more than 95%);
the ability to determine the bacterium in the early stages of its aggressiveness;
the ability to track deviations from the norm and the dynamics of the disease;
availability of analysis.

The disadvantages of this study include:

the possibility of determining the bacterium no earlier than 20 days after infection.
bacterial antibodies may be present in the body even after a course of treatment.
a high probability of distorting the results due to improper preparation or poor-quality laboratory equipment.

Despite the small drawbacks of this research method, doctors in the field of gastroenterology are confident that this analysis is the only way to detect the presence of a pathogenic bacterium in the intestinal mucosa.

A timely analysis can help eliminate the disease even at an early stage of its development. But on the condition that the most effective research methods are chosen.

Ways of infection and methods for detecting Helicobacter pylori

You can immediately tell which analysis for Helicobacter is the most accurate, this is a histological test. But, to take to confirm or deny the presence of the Helicobacter pylori bacteria in the body, at least two analyzes should be taken. After all, there is always a risk of error, and a lot depends on which second type of analysis will be chosen by the doctor.

To detect Helicobacter pylori, the following tests are used:

Bacteriological;
Histological;
Urease respiratory;
Immunological;
Serological.

It is worth knowing that each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, in order to determine the exact result, it is recommended to take 2 - 3 different types of analysis. The answers received will make it possible to more accurately determine the presence or absence of Helicobacter pylori.

Helicobacteriosis is an intestinal infection. Therefore, almost anyone can develop this disease. Helicobacter pylori can enter the human body in 3 ways:

Fecal-oral. Bacteria present in the feces of a sick person enter a healthy body through the oral cavity. Penetration can be carried out through food, water;
Oral-oral. Infection occurs by kissing through saliva. Children from sick parents can become infected with the disease through spoons and forks;
Iatrogenic. Very rarely, but there are cases of infection with Helicobacter pylori through medical instruments used in the examination of the gastrointestinal tract.

And although in most cases the infection of this type of intestinal infection occurs from a person. This infection can also penetrate through pets, dogs, pigs or cats. Helicobacter pylori can be present for a long time secretly in the body. And only when favorable conditions for reproduction appear in the form of stress or a decrease in immunity, the infection actively begins its reproduction, provoked by the development of pathologies in the gastrointestinal tract.

Features of methods for detecting intestinal infection

Before prescribing to test the body for the presence of a virus, the doctor always considers several options at once. The fact is that each analysis used in the detection of infection is not able to give a 100% answer. Therefore, at least two types of completely different analyzes aimed at identifying one infection are always prescribed.

Bacteriological. Its accuracy reaches 90%, and it also allows you to get more important information about the infection. This analysis makes it possible to accurately identify which antibiotics the strain has susceptibility to. Despite this high detection rate, this assay should only be used if there is little or no susceptibility to clarithromycin in the population. It also becomes relevant in a situation where previously used therapy has not shown the desired results;
Histological. Refers to one of the most accurate analyzes. Its accuracy level sometimes reaches 100%. The mucosal tissue used for this procedure is carefully examined for the presence of special elements that indicate the development of infection. This analysis allows you to identify the most approximate number of bacteria and determine their level of sensitivity to certain antibiotics;
Urease respiratory. The air exhaled by a person is used as a test material for the presence of Helicobacter pylori. The fact is that Helicobacter pylori promotes the decomposition of urea into elements such as ammonia and carbon dioxide. This analysis is taken to identify these elements in the exhaled air. Despite the fact that this analysis is one of the easiest, unfortunately, its result is always in doubt, since it is only 80-85%. Therefore, it is used more often in only two cases, this is the primary diagnosis if this type of infection is suspected and the subsequent verification of the effect of the drugs used in the treatment of the disease;
PCR. This analysis is particularly sensitive, for this reason, it has a number of advantages over other research methods. It is able to detect not only acute, but also a pathogenic type of infection. He is able to detect them, even if their number does not exceed single copies. Detection by a microorganism in this way occurs literally after 5-6 hours;
Immunological. This analysis is done more often at the beginning of the diagnosis and subsequently to clarify the effectiveness of the treatment method. The reliability of the result reaches 80%;
Serological. This analysis is given during the initial diagnosis. But because of the lack of information. It is taken only by adults, since in children, due to their weak immune system, it is not able to detect the presence of a present or traces of a past infection.

It is worth knowing, only the doctor decides which analysis will need to be taken for an intestinal infection. The choice of analysis is influenced by many factors, including symptoms indicating the presence of the Helicobacter bacterium.

How long do retests take?

Each method used in the detection of Helicobacter pylori has its own series of features that are present not only in the conduct and delivery of the analysis, but also in the timing. After all, it will be necessary to take tests to identify intestinal infections after the course of treatment. And from what method of research will be assigned, it will be clear not only how to pass an analysis for Helicobacter pylori, but after what period after the course of treatment.

If a doctor prescribes a urea breath test for a second examination, then it is better to do it 4 to 6 weeks after the end of the course of treatment. An immunological study can show the result more precisely. But only in the case of the presence of an intestinal infection in the body. Unfortunately, the negative answers they often show turn out to be erroneous. Often the cause of a false answer is constipation. Research by this method is best done 2 weeks after treatment.

Gastroscopy is an effective method. It allows you to assess the condition of the mucosa and eliminate the likelihood of developing oncopathology. But due to the specifics of its implementation, many refuse to hold it. If you decide which method is better and easier, then, of course, urease-respiratory. But if you are interested in which of them is most accurate, the result will be given precisely by gastroscopy.

Analyzes for Helicobacter pylori: types, norm and interpretation

Helicobacter pylori is a pathogenic spiral bacterium that is resistant to the effects of gastric juice. Once in the body, it settles in the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines, leading to its inflammation, the development of erosions, gastritis, and peptic ulcer.

Timely detection of Helicobacter pylori infection is the key to successful treatment of these and other pathologies, including cancer.

When is an analysis for H.pylori needed?

An analysis is needed when a person complains of discomfort and pain in the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms that require testing for the presence of this bacterium are:

regular heartburn;
heaviness in the stomach;
painful sensations, in particular those that disappear after eating;
rejection by the body of meat food up to nausea and vomiting.

Laboratory examination is carried out if there is a suspicion of peptic ulcer, inflammatory pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, gastritis, malignant tumors.

It includes four methods:

ELISA - enzyme immunoassay for antibodies to Helicobacter pylori;
UBT (urea breath tests) - urea breath test;
PCR - study of feces;
mucosal biopsy with cytology.

What do the tests show?

blood test for hylobacter pylori

Shows the presence and concentration of antibodies to Helicobacter pylori in the blood. Their appearance is a signal that the immune system has detected the pathogen and began to fight it.

For each type of pathogens, their own immunoglobulins are produced. Antibodies to H. pylori appear in the blood from a week to a month after infection and are of three types: IgA, IgG and IgM. They indicate the presence and stage of development of the infection.

This method is the most reliable, with its help, the pathogen's DNA is detected in the patient's feces.

PCR finds even a negligible amount of bacteria, which helps to predict the disease and reveals a tendency to develop gastritis, cancer of the stomach, intestines and other pathologies associated with Helicobacter pylori infection.

H.pylori bacteria secrete an enzyme, urease, to protect against gastric acid. It has the property of splitting urea into two substances - ammonia and carbon dioxide CO2, which is released during breathing and is detected by the urease test.

A breath test for Helicobacter pylori is performed using a urea solution labeled with carbon isotopes. For children and pregnant women, a less accurate but safe urea helic test is used.

This type of study shows the presence of Helicobacter pylori in gastric mucus. The test is considered positive when at least one bacterium is detected, and depending on the amount of H. pylori, the degree of contamination is revealed:

How to get tested for Helicobacter pylori?

To study for antibodies to H. pylori, blood taken from a vein is used. In a test tube, it is folded using a special gel that separates the plasma from the formed elements (platelets, erythrocytes, leukocytes).

In the presence of H.pylori bacteria in the body, it is in the plasma that the desired immunoglobulins are found. A blood test for Helicobacter pylori is taken in the morning, on an empty stomach. The day before, you can not eat fatty foods.

Analysis of feces requires preparation - within 3 days before its delivery, you can not eat food with a lot of fiber (vegetables, fruits, cereals), with dyes and salt.

During this period, it is also forbidden to give an enema, take antibiotics, drugs to enhance peristalsis, and use rectal suppositories.

A breath test for Helicobacter pylori is given as follows:

The patient breathes twice into a tube placed deep in the mouth.
He then drinks a test solution of urea labeled with carbon isotopes.
After 15 minutes, he gives up 4 more portions of exhaled air.
If the second test shows the presence of a carbon isotope in the samples, then the result is considered positive.

It is important that saliva does not get into the tube, otherwise the procedure will have to be repeated. 3 days before the urease test, it is forbidden to drink alcohol and foods that provoke gas formation in the intestines (legumes, cabbage, rye bread, apples, and others).

From 10 pm until the analysis itself, you can’t eat; on the day of the test, factors that increase salivation (chewing gum, smoking) should be avoided. One hour before the test, you should not drink anything.

In a cytological analysis, smears of gastric mucus taken during fibrogastroduodenoscopy (this is a method of examining the gastrointestinal tract with a probe) are studied.

Deciphering the results of the analysis for hylobacter pylori

Deciphering a blood test

In a blood test for Helicobacter pylori, the results depend on the presence or absence of immunoglobulins to the bacterium, as shown in the table below.

Three types of antibodies to H. pylori (A, G and M) appear at different stages of infection and help determine how much time has passed since infection.

Early period of infection (when it is not yet detected).
There are no H.pylori bacteria in the body.
Recovery period, antibiotic therapy.

The urease breath test is either negative or positive.

Upon detection of Helicobacter pylori, a quantitative study is carried out using a mass spectrometer. At the same time, depending on the percentage of carbon isotope in the exhaled air, there are 4 degrees of infection (values are indicated as a percentage):

Deciphering the analyzes of feces and gastric mucus is simple: they give either a negative result when bacteria are not detected, or a positive result.

Analysis rate

Laboratories conducting blood tests for Helicobacter pylori have their own reference values, or normal values. They are always indicated on the form.

A value below the threshold is considered a negative result, and a value above the threshold is considered a positive result. For example, for IgG antibodies, the following numbers are often used (in U/L):

above 1.1 - the development of infection;
below 0.9 - no infection;
from 0.9 to 1.1 - doubtful values that require additional verification.

More often, Helicobacter pylori infection carries a risk for the development of peptic ulcer and gastritis, therefore, for an accurate diagnosis of the pathology, along with laboratory tests, the gastroenterologist prescribes other research methods.

Symptoms and treatment

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Tests for Helicobacter: types, reliability, preparation and results

The main cause of the development of chronic gastritis and stomach ulcers is the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (Helicobacter pylori), therefore, if there are symptoms of these diseases, an analysis is made for this infection. What is it, in what cases should it be taken, how to decipher the results and how to treat the infection?

Tests for Helicobacter

There are several ways to diagnose HP infection (HP is short for Helicobacter pylori), they have different reliability and differ in time and cost. Which of the methods is faster and cheaper, and which one will show the result more accurately?

Methods for laboratory diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection are divided into invasive and non-invasive. Invasive ones involve endoscopy with the taking of biomaterial (biopsy) and subsequent cytological examination.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a molecular genetic study that allows you to identify DNA fragments of the causative agent of helicobacteriosis. Fecal masses are used as the studied biomaterial. During the analysis, a section of bacterial DNA is isolated from the biomaterial, which is then repeatedly duplicated on a special device - an amplifier. When the amount of DNA is sufficient for further detection, it is determined whether a genomic fragment characteristic of Helicobacter pylori is found in the sample. A positive result indicates the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection. PCR analysis allows you to confirm the presence of a foreign microorganism in the body with an accuracy of 90-95%. Normally, the genetic material of Helicobacter pylori is not detected in the test material.

Immunological methods do not determine the pathogen directly, but detect antibodies to antigens characteristic of it.

The main method of blood analysis for antibodies is enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) - quantitative determination of the level of antibodies of the IgA, IgM and IgG classes to Helicobacter pylori. ELISA also allows you to evaluate the effectiveness of infection therapy. Thus, the production of IgM antibodies to Helicobacter pylori is a marker of the acute stage of the process. A few weeks after the initial infection, IgM disappear. With the progression of the disease and its transition to a chronic form, antibodies of the IgA class are detected, then IgG. High levels of their concentration remain in the blood for a long time. The sensitivity of the method is 87-98%.

Immunoblotting

Immunoblotting is significantly inferior to other immunological methods both in terms of cost and laboriousness of the analysis, however, only with its help it is possible, having only the patient's blood serum, to obtain data on the properties of the Helicobacter pylori strain (based on whether it produces specific CagA and VacA antigens). ).

Breath tests

Breath test - determination of the products of hydrolysis of urea by H. pylori urease in the air exhaled by the patient. The study is based on the ability of the bacterium to produce the hydrolytic enzyme urease. In the digestive tract, urease breaks down urea into carbon dioxide and ammonia. Carbon dioxide is transported to the lungs and released with air during breathing, its amount is recorded by a special device for urease analysis. Breath tests for Helicobacter are divided into carbon and ammonia.

Microbiological methods

Microbiological and bacteriological methods are used less often, since they take more time to carry out. They involve bacteriological culture of feces, isolation of the culture of the pathogen and determination of its sensitivity to antibiotics. During the study, the feces are placed in a growth medium that is favorable for growing colonies of Helicobacter pylori. After a certain period of time, the culture is studied under a microscope, noting the number of colonies and their properties.

The main signs that may indicate infection with Helicobacter pylori are typical symptoms of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

The decision on the choice of method is made by the attending physician. If an HP infection is detected in a patient, it may be appropriate to examine the patient's family members.

Preparation for analysis

To pass the analysis for Helicobacter, special preparation is not required, but it is important to follow the general rules, since only correctly collected material guarantees the reliability of the result. As a rule, all tests are taken on an empty stomach, that is, after at least eight hours of abstinence from food. Before the study, you should exclude alcohol, smoking, eating fatty and fried foods. When collecting material yourself, for example, for fecal analysis, it is important to avoid contamination of it, since any foreign particles (for example, detergents used to clean the toilet or bedpan) can distort the result.

An important rule when taking tests: within a month before taking the material, the patient should not take antibiotics and drugs that stimulate gastric motility.

How the results are decoded

If a qualitative analysis was carried out (determination of the presence of Helicobacter bacteria in the body), then in the result form there can be only two options - “negative” or “positive”. If the method of analysis involved a quantitative assessment, the norms of the results depend on the methodology, laboratory, units of measurement and other factors, so only a doctor can interpret the results of the analysis, he also makes the final diagnosis and prescribes treatment.

Helicobacter pylori and its features

Until the 70s of the last century, it was believed that any bacteria that enter the stomach die under the influence of hydrochloric acid, lysozyme and immunoglobulin. In 1989, researchers managed to isolate and cultivate a spiral-shaped microorganism from the gastric mucosa of a patient suffering from gastritis - the bacterium Helicobacter pylori.

The most informative of non-invasive tests are immunological studies, which determine the presence of antibodies to Helicobacter pylori in the blood, the H. pylori antigen in feces, PCR tests to identify the genetic material of the bacterium, and breath tests.

The name of the microorganism comes from "pylori", indicating its place of residence (the pyloric part of the stomach), and the characteristics of the form - "helico", which means "spiral".

Infection with a bacterium usually occurs through contact with dirty surfaces, through saliva, by airborne droplets, as a result of contact with an infected patient, non-compliance with personal hygiene rules, eating insufficiently clean vegetables and fruits, and water from contaminated sources.

Infection caused by Helicobacter pylori is associated with chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, malignant tumors of the stomach (adenocarcinoma, B-cell lymphoma).

Symptoms of Helicobacter pylori infection

The main signs that may indicate infection with Helicobacter pylori are typical symptoms of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract:

pain in the epigastric region;
bad breath;
sour belching;
heartburn, nausea, vomiting;
loss of appetite;
feeling of heaviness after eating;
increased gas formation;
prolonged constipation or loose stools, as well as their alternation.

Video from YouTube on the topic of the article:

Education: Rostov State Medical University, specialty "Medicine".

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What tests to take for Helicobacter pylori

Every disease has a cause. And the effectiveness of treatment and the future health of the patient depends on how correctly it is determined. Various diagnostic methods help in establishing the cause of gastritis and ulcers: instrumental and laboratory.

Consider the main ways to identify one of the most common bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal problems - H. pylori.

How to determine the presence of Helicobacter pylori in the stomach

It is not possible to see such a tiny organism with a length of only 2-3 microns with an eye, as well as to carry out diagnostics at home.

The patient can only assume the presence of gastritis by the corresponding symptoms: epigastric pain after eating, heaviness and discomfort in the stomach, heartburn, belching with air or sour, metallic taste in the mouth. These signs of acidity very often accompany gastritis associated with a pathogenic microbe.

But it is possible to reliably determine whether the Helicobacter pylori bacterium has settled in the body or not, only in the diagnostic department of an outpatient clinic, hospital or laboratory.

There are special methods that allow with high reliability to detect both the microbe itself and its metabolic products, as well as the antibodies produced by the body in response to the introduction of the microbe:

Detection of a pathogen in smears from a section of the inner wall of the stomach or cultivation of a microorganism on nutrient media.

Detection of antibodies in the blood, antigens of microbes in the feces.

Identification of H. pylori under a microscope by coating the research sample with special dyes.

Molecular genetic

Polymerase chain reaction methods.

Urease test, breath test.

All of the above methods can be classified into two large groups:

Invasive. Diagnostic methods based on endoscopic examination - FGDS, with a biopsy. A section of the inner wall of the stomach can then be subjected to a cytological, cultural study, and a urease test can be performed.
Non-invasive. Other methods of detecting infection in which EGD is not performed.

Analysis for Helicobacter pylori (helicobacter pylori) - what is it

The doctor, before conducting research and diagnosis, whether there is a pathogenic microorganism in the stomach or not, it is necessary to take biological material from the patient. Such material can be:

A small area of the gastric mucosa.

A piece of mucous membrane is split off during fibrogastroscopy - a biopsy is performed with a special device right during FGDS.

A blood test does not detect the bacterium itself, but the immunoglobulins that are formed in the body in response to an infection: IgA, IgG, IgM. Read also the transcript of tests for Helicobacter pylori infection.

When N.rulori enters the stomach and actively reproduces, the immune system launches a cascade of reactions aimed at expelling the harmful microorganism. This is manifested in the production of specific antibodies that bind the microbe and seek to neutralize its toxins.

Antibodies or immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM) in excess of the norm may appear several weeks after infection, and their high level persists for some time after successful eradication - therapy for helicobacteriosis.

Fecal analysis allows you to identify bacterial DNA fragments in feces using a special high-precision polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.

This method is very convenient for the following categories of people: elderly, debilitated patients, people who have contraindications for EGD with biopsy, young children. It is non-invasive and painless.

The disadvantage of the method is that even after therapy and getting rid of the infection, the remnants of the bacterial DNA of the dead H. pylori continue to come out with the feces, and the analysis may remain positive.

To conduct a breath test, the patient is offered to ingest a special solution containing labeled 13C isotopes of urea. This aqueous solution is safe for the body.

After the patient has drunk it, 4 samples of exhaled air are taken within an hour at 15-minute intervals. The method is based on the ability of the pathogen to break down urea and convert it into ammonia and carbon dioxide.

The content of the 13C isotope in the exhaled air is determined with a special device, a mass spectrometer. Normally, it does not exceed 1% of the total amount of carbon dioxide. If the indicator is exceeded, there is an infection with a bacterium.

This method is not available in all polyclinic institutions and its cost is high today. Its advantages are speed, painlessness and informativeness.

Analysis for Helicobacter in vitro

In vitro means "in glass" in Greek. This is a complex of diagnostic methods that are carried out outside the human body.

Helicobacter pylori infection is essentially diagnosed by all in vitro methods:

After taking the biopsy material, the mucosal area is imprinted on the glass, stained and examined under a microscope - the cytological method, or the biopsy is placed in a special medium - the urease test.

From a mucosal biopsy, cell cultures can be grown in a test tube or petri dish on special nutrient media - the microbiological method.

A study of urine and feces in order to detect antibodies and antigens of bacteria is also carried out in vitro, outside the human body.

What tests should be taken for Helicobacter pylori

Currently, there are a great many ways to detect a bacterium, its metabolic products and antibodies to it. Each of the methods has certain advantages and disadvantages.

Therefore, the patient is recommended to take several tests to confirm the presence of a microbe in the body, the doctor should recommend them, taking into account the specific clinical case and the technical equipment of the institution in which the diagnosis will be carried out.

Each patient must undergo EGD with a biopsy. Further, the study of the biopted mucosa is possible under a microscope, rapid tests, or by cultivating bacteria on nutrient media.

It will not be superfluous to donate blood and feces for serological diagnosis. Indeed, a high titer of antibodies of the bacterium or its DNE fragments in the feces can become a confirmation of infection.

A breath test is an excellent non-invasive method that allows you to reliably confirm the presence of a bacterium in the body and its activity. And if there is an opportunity to go through it in a medical institution, you should definitely use it.

Tests for Helicobacter pylori infection are taken not only to identify the microorganism, but also to control the cure. What kind of research is needed is always determined by the doctor.

What analysis for Helicobacter pylori is the most informative

The correct analyzes are:

cytological method, when the doctor observes the presence of bacteria under a microscope
culture method - growing bacteria on nutrient media
PCR diagnostic method or molecular genetic method - detection of genes or DNA fragments of a bacterium

All these methods are based on the initial biopsy - a piece of gastric mucosa during EGD. They are invasive. Without “swallowing the tube”, these methods cannot be carried out.

Unlike the methods of serological blood testing, in which antibodies are detected that indirectly indicate the presence of a microbe in the body or enzyme methods that are able to diagnose its metabolic products, cytology reveals the pathogen in its entirety, in person.

For this study, smears-imprints of biopsy specimens of the gastric mucosa are used. It is important to take a biopsy from the most informative areas and suspected habitats of the bacterium - more often this is the antrum.

The smears are dried, stained with special dyes and examined under a microscope. Bacteria are located in the mucus, they are S-shaped or spiral-shaped, have flagella at the end of the body. An experienced eye of a diagnostician will not confuse these microorganisms with any others.

The cultural method allows you to grow a whole colony of bacteria on special nutrient media. Pathogens love an environment with a low oxygen content (no more than 5%), blood nutrient media are used for their cultivation.

Under favorable conditions, compliance with the temperature regime during cultivation and anaerobic conditions, after 3-5 days, round, transparent colonies of bacteria grow on the medium, which are then subjected to identification.

PCR methods for detecting genes and fragments of Helicobacter pylori DNA are informative, but require special equipment and reagents. Not every polyclinic institution has it today.

What analysis is best to pass on Helicobacter

The list of tests should be determined by the doctor, taking into account the specific case and the purpose of the study.

For prophylactic purposes, without complaints from the gastrointestinal tract, you can use non-invasive diagnostic methods (without FGDS):

blood test for serological detection of antibodies to the microbe
stool analysis for PCR diagnostics of DNA fragments
breath test

If there are complaints from the gastrointestinal tract or suspicion of infection, it is necessary to conduct an EGD, followed by taking a section of the gastric mucosa. In this case, a cytological, cultural, urease rapid test or PCR diagnostics of the biopsy is recommended.

There is no "gold standard" for diagnosing a microbe. All methods complement each other, so you need to use several of them. The choice and tactics of diagnosis is the prerogative of the attending physician.

How is Helicobacter pylori tested?

If they want to diagnose the bacterium itself or its fragments, they take a section of the mucous membrane from the stomach with a special device during FGDS. The doctor determines the puncture site - these are the most hyperemic and swollen areas of the inner gastric wall. You can not take a piece from the bottom of erosions or ulcers for research.

If the purpose of the diagnosis is a preventive examination or evaluation of the effectiveness of treatment, non-invasive methods can be used: take a blood test, feces, and conduct a breath test.

Before conducting invasive tests, the patient is required to prepare only for an endoscopic examination - fibrogastroscopy.

Blood for research is taken from a vein; analysis does not require special preparation from the patient. It is advisable to donate blood on an empty stomach, in the evening we will allow a light dinner, it is not advisable to overeat or eat fatty foods.

Before analyzing feces, you should eat properly for 3 days: do not eat foods containing a large amount of dyes and preservatives, coarse fiber foods, do not take medications, alcohol.

Preparation is also important before the breath test. You can not eat after 22.00 in the evening on the eve of the test and in the morning. Two days before the study, exclude all products and liquids that increase gas formation and can increase the concentration of CO2 with exhaled air: cabbage, legumes, apples, muffins, soda. You can not drink alcohol and smoke, use chewing gum.

Their quality and result depend on how consciously the patient reacts to preparing for the tests. And that means subsequent treatment and general well-being.

Test for Helicobacter with FGDS and gastroscopy

Rapid tests in the diagnosis of bacteria are gaining wide popularity. They are quite informative, allow you to quickly establish the infection of H. pylori within a few minutes after the FGDS. These are rapid urease tests.

They are based on the ability of the microbial enzyme urease to break down urea with the release of ammonium. Ammonium ions create an alkaline environment and contribute to the color change of the express system indicator.

The one-time express kit includes:

urea
PH indicator (initially its color is yellow)
bacteriostatic agent

During FGDS, a section of the mucosa is taken. This section is placed on the speed dial panel. If this mucosa contains a microbe, its urease enzyme begins to actively break down the urea contained in the test.

Ammonia is released, alkalizes the medium, the indicator reacts to its release and changes its color from yellow to crimson. The test is estimated from several minutes to a day. Raspberry staining will indicate the presence of infection and a positive test.

If the color change of the indicator did not occur, or it appeared after a day, the result is considered negative. There is no pathogen in the biopsy.

FGDS with a biopsy for Helicobacter pylori

Required for persons who:

Have symptoms of pathology of the gastrointestinal tract: heartburn, nausea, discomfort or pain in the epigastrium, a metallic taste in the mouth
Have close contact with people who have already been diagnosed with this infection, or among family members this diagnosis is established
They already have a history of gastritis, esophagitis, an ulcer without an established etiology
Completed a course of eradication therapy for this infection to assess the quality of treatment
Have skin problems of unknown etiology, immune disorders
Successfully treated for H. pylori with reliably confirmed laboratory data, for the prevention of reinfection 1 time per year.

Study Information

Helicobacter pylori

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) allows you to increase the number of copies of the DNA of bacteria or viruses millions of times using the DNA polymerase enzyme. One molecule of DNA is sufficient for diagnosis. The synthesized amount of DNA is identified by enzyme immunoassay or electrophoresis. PCR diagnostics makes it possible to detect the pathogen at the earliest stages of the infectious process, in any biological environment of the body, with the possibility of quantitative determination of viruses or bacteria.

Helicobacter pylori is a spiral gram-negative bacterium that was found on the gastric mucosa more than half a century ago, but they did not arouse much interest until the early 1980s, when a method was developed for culturing organisms from mucosal biopsy material.

In 1983, Australian physician Barry Marshall discovered that H. pylori was almost always present in the stomach of patients suffering from chronic gastritis or ulcers. Bacteria, by themselves, do not cause stomach or duodenal ulcers, however, they provoke inflammatory processes in the stomach and weaken the natural protection of the mucosa from the effects of the acidic environment of the stomach; while H. pylori stimulates the hypersecretion of hydrochloric acid, affecting the mechanisms of its regulation. If the ongoing therapy leads to a decrease in the acidity of the stomach, then the ulcer may be delayed, but after the treatment is stopped, there is a possibility of its recurrence. Long-term observations have shown that in patients who have not received treatment against H. pylori, the ulcer recurs after 2 years in 100%, and in treated patients, recurs (usually due to H. pylori reinfection) in only 5-10%. The source of H. pylori infection is an infected person, cats, pigs, cattle and monkeys (rhesus monkey). Most often, infection occurs through water and food contaminated with faeces (vegetables that were watered with contaminated water). The object of transmission of the infectious principle can be contaminated hands, saliva, drops of saliva or sputum when coughing. Studies conducted by doctors from the United States have shown that H.pylori can be considered a family infection, and if a carrier of H.pylori is detected in the family, then the probability of other family members being infected is 95%. Detection of Helicobacter by PCR makes it possible to establish a diagnosis much faster and to monitor treatment. The material for the study can serve as gastric aspirates, feces, saliva.

Please note that taking a urogenital swab, swab from the pharynx, nose, and oral cavity is paid.

Helicobacter pylori is one of the most insidious bacteria that, by its presence, can cause the development of many diseases associated with the gastrointestinal tract. That is why, if any problems appear in this area, the patient is recommended to take a blood test.

More than half of the inhabitants of the planet Earth have this bacterium in their bodies. But not for everyone, it begins its destructive activity.

Helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative bacterium that cannot survive in the air. Therefore, the main ways of its transmission are through saliva, mucus and food. Most often, it is transmitted through everyday life, especially in the family circle, when people, for one reason or another, neglect the elementary rules of hygiene and aesthetics, and lick spoons one after another, etc.

Bacteria can enter the body in the following ways:

Through saliva. This can happen completely by accident, for example, someone did not wash their glass after themselves, or maybe during a kiss.
Through dirty dishes.
Through slime.
Quite often, children get infected from mothers when they lick their pacifiers, spoons, etc.

After the bacterium has entered the body, it is directly transported and settles in the stomach. By the way, this is the only bacterium that is not affected by gastric juice. There it penetrates the mucous membrane and begins its activity.

Not always, Helicobacter pylori, which has entered the body, is a way to have a devastating effect. Sometimes she just naps. It all depends on the general condition of a person, his immunity, etc.

Before moving on to what analysis you need to pass in order to detect Helicobacter, you need to get acquainted with its features, since it is because of them that it has its effect in the human body.

As mentioned above, this is one of the few bacteria that can resist gastric juice. It moves very quickly, thanks to its flagella, and is also able to produce more ammonia, which has a detrimental effect on acids.

Penetrates into the mucosa and begins to destroy cells, and therefore ulcers, foci of inflammation, etc. appear on the mucosa.

Despite the fact that the bacterium is resistant to gastric juice, and indeed is one of the most enduring, it can be eliminated by resorting to special preparations.

As the bacterium multiplies, the body becomes more and more poisoned, which is why the gastric mucosa becomes inflamed in the first place. Therefore, if you suspect that a person may have a bacterium, or if one of the family members suffers from an ulcer or gastritis, a blood test should be taken.

When should I get tested for Helicobacter pylori?

Many doctors recommend periodically, as well as undergo a medical examination. But it just so happened that everyone goes to the doctor only when something is ill. So it is in this situation.

If the following symptoms appear, it is urgent to take a blood test for Helicobacter pylori:

Pain, both strong and not so much during meals, as well as after it. This is usually manifested by stagnation of food, its indigestion due to low enzyme production.
"Hungry pains", which mainly appear when a person has eaten for a long time. After eating, the pain gradually subsides. Moreover, while eating, a person will feel how the food goes down the esophagus. And if you drink a glass of cool water, you can feel how the water flows. Such pains indicate that there are damaged areas on the walls of the mucosa.
Frequent heartburn. Heartburn is a very unpleasant symptom, which can be stopped immediately. And in most cases, after a while, it comes back again. Heartburn is the backflow of gastric juice, which negatively affects the esophagus, irritates it. If the case of heartburn is a single one, then there is no need to panic, but if it is repeated again and again, then it is better to play it safe and donate blood.
Feeling of heaviness, which appears mainly after eating, even if the person ate very little. With such sensations, it seems as if all the food has risen and is not digested.
Frequent nausea, which is not caused, for example, (toxicosis).
Periodic "breakdowns" of the stomach, when a person can neither eat nor drink, since he, and also all this is accompanied by vomiting.
Sensation of slight discomfort in the stomach. Sometimes such sensations speak of the initial stage of the effect of bacteria on the mucous membrane. They are manifested by small aching battles that pass quickly, light weight, and also simply poor appetite.
It is also recommended to take a blood test if in. As for children, they most often cannot say what worries them and therefore it is worth paying attention to the general condition of the baby, as well as his movements. Sometimes the baby cannot tell where it hurts, but at the same time puts his hand on the sore spot.

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Every disease has a cause. And the future health of the patient also depends on how correctly it is determined. Various diagnostic methods help in establishing the cause of gastritis and ulcers: instrumental and laboratory.

Consider the main ways to identify one of the most common bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal problems - H. pylori.

It is not possible to see such a tiny organism with a length of only 2-3 microns with an eye, as well as to carry out diagnostics at home.

But it is possible to reliably determine whether the bacterium has settled in the body or not, only in the diagnostic department of an outpatient clinic, hospital or laboratory.

Bacteriological

Detection of a pathogen in smears from a section of the inner wall of the stomach or cultivation of a microorganism on nutrient media.

Serological

Detection of antibodies in the blood, antigens of microbes in the feces.

Morphological

Identification of H. pylori under a microscope by coating the research sample with special dyes.

Molecular genetic

Polymerase chain reaction methods.

Biochemical

Urease test, breath test.

All of the above methods can be classified into two large groups:

Invasive. Diagnostic methods based on endoscopic examination - FGDS, with a biopsy. A section of the inner wall of the stomach can then be subjected to a cytological, cultural study, and a urease test can be performed.
Non-invasive. Other methods of detecting infection in which EGD is not performed.

Analysis for Helicobacter pylori (helicobacter pylori) - what is it

A small area of the gastric mucosa.

A piece of mucous membrane is split off during fibrogastroscopy - a biopsy is performed with a special device right during FGDS.

Blood

A blood test does not detect the bacterium itself, but the immunoglobulins that are formed in the body in response to an infection: IgA, IgG, IgM. Read also about Helicobacter pylori infection.

If the purpose of the diagnosis is a preventive examination or evaluation of the effectiveness of treatment, non-invasive methods can be used: take a blood test, feces, and conduct a breath test.

Before conducting invasive tests, the patient is required to prepare only for an endoscopic examination - fibrogastroscopy.

Before analyzing feces, you should eat properly for 3 days: do not eat foods containing a large amount of dyes and preservatives, coarse fiber foods, do not take medications, alcohol.

Their quality and result depend on how consciously the patient reacts to preparing for the tests. And that means subsequent treatment and general well-being.

Test for Helicobacter with FGDS and gastroscopy

The one-time express kit includes:

urea
PH indicator (initially its color is yellow)
bacteriostatic agent

When a section of the mucosa is taken. This section is placed on the speed dial panel. If this mucosa contains a microbe, its urease enzyme begins to actively break down the urea contained in the test.

If the color change of the indicator did not occur, or it appeared after a day, the result is considered negative. There is no pathogen in the biopsy.

FGDS with a biopsy for Helicobacter pylori

Required for persons who:

Have symptoms of pathology of the gastrointestinal tract: heartburn, nausea, discomfort or pain in the epigastrium, a metallic taste in the mouth
Have close contact with people who have already been diagnosed with this infection, or among family members this diagnosis is established
They already have a history of gastritis, esophagitis, an ulcer without an established etiology
Completed a course of eradication therapy for this infection to assess the quality of treatment
Have skin problems of unknown etiology, immune disorders
Successfully treated for H. pylori with reliably confirmed laboratory data, for the prevention of reinfection 1 time per year.