Comparison between Immunochromatographic Test and Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay in Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori Infection among Gastritis Patients in Khartoum State-Sudan

Background: The gold standard for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection requires an endoscopic biopsy of gastric mucosa for histological examination, urease test and culture; however serological tests are useful as a screening test for Helicobacter pylori infection.

Objective: To compare between Immunochromatographic Test and Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay techniques in detection of Helicobacter pylori immunoglobulin gamma antibodies in serum of patients suffer from gastritis.

Materials and Methods: 245 patients were screened for Helicobacter pylori infections by rapid urease test. Sera from these patients were tested for anti- Helicobacter pylori immunoglobulin gamma antibodies by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay and Immunochromatographic Test techniques.

Results: Of 245 patients tested, Immunochromatographic Test positive/negative 114 (46.5%)/131 (53.5%), whereas Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay positive/negative were 124 (50.6%)/121 (49.4%). Sensitivity/ specificity was 67.4%/74.5% and 90.2%/89.3% for Immunochromatographic Test/Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay positive/negative, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy was 71%/89.7% for Immunochromatographic Test/Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay, respectively.

Conclusion: The Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay technique was found to be more sensitive, specific and accurate compared to the Immunochromatographic Test while The Immunochromatographic Test is commercially available, inexpensive and easy to perform compared to the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay.