Value of a new stick-type rapid urine test for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection in the Vietnamese population

AIM: To assess the value of a new test for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, Rapirun^®H. pylori Antibody Stick (Rapirun^® Stick), in a Vietnamese population.METHODS: Eligible patients without previous history of H. pylori eradication were recruited. Rapid urease test (RUT) and histologic examination were used to diagnose the H. pylori infection. Patients were considered H. pylori positive when the RUT results were positive and/or the bacteria were detected histologically. Rapirun^® Stick tests were performed using urine samples, and the results were compared with the other 2 methods.RESULTS: We enrolled 200 patients with a mean age of 36 (range, 18-76) years. There were 116 females and 84 males. Of the 200 patients, 111 (55.5%) were diagnosed as being H. pylori positive. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the Stick test were 84.7%, 89.9%, and 87.0%, respectively. There were 17 (8.5%) false-negative patients and 9 (4.5%) false-positive patients.CONCLUSION: The Rapirun^® Stick test has high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection in the Vietnamese population. The test can be clinically applied in Vietnamese populations.