PCR for the Detection of H. pylori in Gastric Juice Aspirates and Environmental Water Samples

Helicobacter pylori is a curved Gram-negative bacillus that infects the human gastric mucosa. Most methods used to diagnose H. pylori require the collection of gastric samples by biopsy during gastroduodenoscopy. A positive culture or visualization of the organism by histologic examination of biopsy material can give a definitive diagnosis (1). To make a diagnosis without gastroduodenoscopy, indirect tests, such as ELISA or urea breath tests, must be relied on (2). The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be used to make a highly specific diagnosis from gastric juice aspirates or environmental samples.