Rapid Test For Helicobacter Pylori - Types Of Tests, Pros And Cons

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

Rapid test for Helicobacter pylori

Many people still remain firmly convinced that stomach ulcers and gastritis are the result of inaccuracies in nutrition or a consequence of leading an improper lifestyle. In fact, it has long been proven that most often the inflammation of the gastric mucosa is caused by pathogenic microorganisms called Helicobacter pylori. This bacterium lives in the stomach, destroying its wall and leading to serious illness.

Helicobacter pylori are the culprits not only for gastritis and stomach ulcers, but also for oncological changes in the digestive system. However, today there are treatment methods to get rid of the microorganism. Before starting therapy, you should make sure that the patient is indeed infected with Helicobacter pylori.

A modern person does not always have time to go to see a doctor in order to undergo a comprehensive diagnosis. Moreover, not all medical institutions in the country conduct non-invasive research aimed at detecting Helicobacter pylori. Often, therapy is prescribed without diagnostics. The modern pharmacological industry offers people who suspect they have Helicobacter pylori to purchase and perform express tests at home on their own. These tests are inexpensive, easy to use, and if used correctly, the reliability of the result can be equal to 100%.

Doctors do not consider the results of rapid tests for Helicobacter pylori as a basis for prescribing therapy. However, the presence of symptoms of infection and a positive result of a home test should be the reason for a comprehensive examination of the patient.

Content:

• Who needs a rapid test for Helicobacter pylori?
• Rapid test for the detection of Helicobacter pylori in the blood
• Rapid test for the detection of Helicobacter pylori in feces
• Pros and cons of express testing

Who needs a rapid test for Helicobacter pylori?

The fact that a person is infected with Helicobacter pylori, he can learn many years after the infection. For years, the bacterium is able to live in the human stomach, without manifesting itself in any way. Its pathological effect on the gastric wall is extended over time. In many ways, the severity of the symptoms of infection depends on the strain of the bacterium itself, as well as on the reactivity of the human immune system.

It should be taken into account that almost 100% of the adult population have some kind of problems with the digestive system. Not always pathological symptoms from the stomach and intestines indicate infection with Helicobacter pylori. It is possible that they really arise against the background of errors in nutrition.

However, there are some symptoms that should suggest the need for testing, including:

• Stomach ache. At first, the pain is weak and does not last long. A person does not pay any attention to such discomfort. When Helicobacter pylori is infected, pain most often occurs while the patient is hungry and his stomach is empty. Also, painful sensations can bother right after a hearty dinner. Acute pain is characteristic of severe inflammation of the stomach wall or stomach ulcer.
• Belching. When infected with Helicobacter pylori, belching bothers a person very often, giving him some discomfort. It may not be associated with food intake and may be accompanied by a sour smell.
• Heartburn. If Helicobacter pylori is present in the stomach, then heartburn will occur frequently and last for a long time. It is difficult to eliminate it with medication.
• Nausea and vomiting. These symptoms can be quite severe. A person is sick on an empty stomach and after eating. Helicobacter pylori cannot cause vomiting by themselves, but they contribute to the disruption of the work of all organs of the digestive system, including the pancreas.
• Allergic reactions. Since bacteria in the course of their vital activity produce toxins, a person may become prone to allergies, which did not exist before. This is expressed in skin rashes, skin itching and irritation.

Over time, symptoms that indirectly indicate infection with Helicobacter pylori will progress. Therefore, you need to timely identify the bacteria in the body and get rid of it.

Rapid test for the detection of Helicobacter pylori in the blood

You will not need to visit a laboratory or other medical institution to conduct testing for the detection of Helicobacter pylori. You can buy the test at the pharmacy. Doing it at home is not at all difficult.

The test allows the determination of antibodies to Helicobacter pylori in whole blood.

The tests most often include:

• Indicator plate packaged in an individual vacuum bag.
• Reagent for diluting the obtained blood sample.
• Pipette for adding blood to the plate.
• Scarifier suitable for single use.
• Antiseptic napkin.
• Instructions for use.

If the test was stored in the refrigerator, then it must be kept at room temperature for 20 minutes before using it. Then the dough is removed from the package and laid out on a dry, clean and flat surface. The indicator window should be at the top.

Hands should be washed with soap, after which the package with a disposable antiseptic napkin is opened and the finger is treated with it, from which blood will be taken.

The next step is to open the scarifier. With it, a small puncture is made at the tip of the finger so that blood appears.

The blood is drawn into a pipette. One drop of liquid is enough to perform the test. It is introduced into a round window located on the express test tablet. After the blood is in the indicator, 2 drops of the reagent are added to it. Leave the test for 15 minutes, after which the result can be evaluated.

A line appears in the test area of the tablet. If the line is one, then the person is not infected with Helicobacter pylori. If there are two lines, then the result can be considered positive. Thus, the total testing time does not exceed 20 minutes.

Rapid test for the detection of Helicobacter pylori in feces

There is a possibility of testing for Helicobacter pylori using feces. An antigen will be present in the faeces of a person infected with a bacterium, to which the device reacts.

The test for the detection of Helicobacter pylori in feces includes such components as:

• Stool collection tube.
• Gloves.
• Solvent reagent.
• Instructions for use.

It should be borne in mind that in order to increase the reliability of the results, preliminary preparation will be required.

It is not recommended to conduct a study earlier than one month after the end of antibiotic intake. 3 days before taking the material, it is recommended to exclude from the menu products that can increase gas formation. It is not recommended to take drugs aimed at enhancing intestinal motility.

If there is blood or bile in the feces, then this can distort the final result. Therefore, in case of intestinal pathologies, preference should be given to an express test for the detection of Helicobacter pylori in the blood.

Feces are taken into any clean container; it is not necessary to sterilize it. About 125 g of feces are introduced into a test tube. You can use a cotton swab for this. The resulting material is poured with a solvent that comes with the dough.

The sample is shaken thoroughly to obtain a uniform consistency. Leave the tube at room temperature for 10 minutes. After the specified time, several drops of the composition are applied to the indicator. It is left on the dough for another 10 minutes. Now you can start evaluating the result.

If one strip appears on the test, then the result is regarded as negative, and if two stripes appear on the test, this indicates infection with Helicobacter pylori.

Naturally, home-based research is insufficient to prescribe treatment. However, if you receive a positive result, you must consult a doctor and inform him about the testing. The doctor will prescribe the patient a comprehensive examination, based on which a decision will be made on the need for therapy.

Pros and cons of express testing

The rapid test for Helicobacter pylori has certain advantages, including:

• There is no need to go to the hospital for testing.
• The cost of such tests is not great, and the accuracy of the results is quite high.
• The test is quick. The result can be estimated in 20 minutes.
• The test is easy to use.

The disadvantages of this method include the fact that its results are not the basis for prescribing treatment. In addition, rapid tests do not allow assessing the degree of infection intensity, do not provide information about the state of the digestive system. They simply confirm or deny the fact of infection. Not everyone can do a blood test, as some people experience panic when they see blood. Also, you should not exclude the receipt of a false positive or false negative result, which most often occurs when the instructions are violated.

In any case, you should always remember that it is very easy to become infected with Helicobacter pylori, and the health consequences can be serious. Therefore, one should not hesitate to diagnose if there are symptoms of the disease.

Author of the article: Danilova Tatyana Vyacheslavovna | Infectionist

Education: in 2008 received a diploma in General Medicine (General Medicine) at the Pirogov Russian Research Medical University. Immediately passed an internship and received a diploma of a therapist