One of the most common causes of ulcers in the small intestine and in the stomach is a small bacteria known as H. pylori. These bacteria are typically present from childhood and may be found in as many as half of the adults around the world.
When children become infected with Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori for short, they rarely have any symptoms. As these children age, the presence of the bacteria can, in some people, result in inflammation in the stomach that is known as gastritis and the increased risk of developing peptic ulcers.
These spiral-shaped invaders burrow into the lining of the stomach where they are protected from attack by the immune system. They are also able to interfere with the immune system and limit the response of the body, which prevents the body from getting rid of the bacterial infection on its own.
Patients coming in for treatment experiencing symptoms such as bloated feeling, excessive burping, nausea, lack of appetite and sudden weight loss can be tested using H. pylori rapid test strips. This provides very fast confirmation of the presence of the bacteria during a biopsy.
The Benefits
With the use of the H. Pylori rapid test, the doctor has presumptive identification of the presence of the bacteria in just an hour. This allows the medical professional to rule out the presence of the bacteria because of the area activity in the biopsy specimen. With a positive result, there often will be the reaction and positive indicator for the presumptive identification of H. pylori within just fifteen minutes.
It is recommended when using these tests that several biopsy sites should be used on the test strip. Some strips are designed to allow full testing from different biopsy locations on a single strip, which is a more economical option and also minimizes the risk of errors during the process.
The rapid tests do not give up anything in accuracy. In tests of over 500 patients the H. pylori rapid test was more accurate and sensitive to the presences of urease activity compared to the stand tests and references currently in use in many medical facilities.
While speed and accuracy of testing is essential, using the test strips is also very convenient. With limited time and the option to have all specimens from one patient on one strip, this is a very practical solution for a busy health care facility.
