Oxoid has improved its Rapid Hp Star test for the detection of Helicobacter pylori antigen in stool samples.
The company said the test now delivers improved sensitivity and specificity, enhancing overall performance.
Rapid Hp Star is a rapid immunochromatographic membrane-based assay that is said to provide reliable results in 15 minutes, without the need for special equipment.
This method is suitable for small volume testing within the laboratory, or for near-patient testing in gastroenterology clinics and doctors' surgeries.
This is ideal for monitoring the efficacy of antimicrobial treatment without the need for return hospital visits.
The Oxoid IDEIA Hp Star test - a sensitive and specific enzyme immunoassay - is also available.
The test is said to be easy to perform using standard equipment, allowing the 'test and treat' policy recommended by the European Helicobacter Study Group to be implemented in routine laboratories.
It is suitable for both manual and automated testing and has demonstrated good performance when compared with the urea breath test and alternative enzyme immunoassays.
Using a combination of amplification technology and monoclonal antibodies, both non-invasive tests are performed using a patient stool sample.
They detect Helicobacter pylori antigen with a high degree of accuracy and can be used to diagnose current infection in both adult and paediatric patients.
Unlike serology methods, these stool antigen tests can be used to detect active infection and to confirm the eradication of Helicobacter pylori following antibiotic therapy.
