Evaluation of rapid urease test for detection of Helicobacter pylori in gastric biopsy specimens

Using 80 gastric biopsy specimens from patients with various gastroduodenal diseases, the isolation rate of H. pylori and urease activity of the biopsy specimens were examined. The sensitivity and specificity of the rapid urease test was 84.6% and 75.9%, respectively, for the cultivation of H. pylori. The mean number of H. pylori detected in urease-positive and negative biopsy specimens was 106.1 ± 0.9 and 104.5 ± 1.2 cfu/g specimens, respectively.