Detection of Helicobacter pylori Urease Activity in Biopsy Specimens

Helicobacter pylori infection is the most important cause of chronic gastritis. H. pylori is a spiral shaped, gram-negative bacterium that colonizes the human stomach. The organism is found in the mucous layer of the stomach overlying the gastric epithelium and it does not appear to invade tissue. However, the mucosa underneath the area of the H. pylori colonization is invariably inflamed; this condition is referred to as a chronic superficial or non-atrophic gastritis, which, if untreated persists for life. The chronic inflammatory process can lead to atrophic gastritis, which has been linked with peptic ulceration and gastric cancer.

The epidemiological evidence of a link between H. pylori infection and gastric adenocarcioma or mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma and has resulted in the classification of the organism as a group I carcinogen.

Biohit’s Point of Care (POC) Helicobacter pylori Quick Test for detecting Helicobacter pylori infection in the stomach is based on the activity of urease enzyme in a biopsy specimen. The biopsy specimen taken from the stomach is examined immediately. The development of the color in the test gel after 1-2 minutes informs whether urease enzyme is present in the biopsy sample or not. H. pylori contains large amount of urease, which degrades urea to ammonia (NH4+). The formed ammonia is detected by an indicator color present in the gel.

Please note: for research use only in the United States and Japan