Description
An enzyme immunoassay for the detection of IgG antibodies to Helicobacter pylori in serum.
Helicobacter pylori is a spiral bacterium cultured from human gastric mucosa discovered by B. J. Marshall in 1982. Studies have indicated that the presence of H. pylori is associated with a variety of gastrointestinal diseases including gastritis, duodenal and gastric ulcers, non-ulcer dyspepsia, and gastric adenocarcinoma and lymphoma.The organism is present in 95-98% of patients with duodenal ulcers and 60-90% of patients with gastric ulcers.The studies have also demonstrated that removal of the organism by anti-microbial therapy is correlated with the resolution of symptoms and cure of diseases. Patients who present clinical symptoms relating to the gastrointestinal tract can be diagnosed for H. pylori infection by two methods:(1) Invasive techniques – include biopsy followed
by culture or histologic examination of biopsy specimen or direct detection of
urease activity.(2) Non-invasive techniques – include urea breath
tests and serological methods.
All of the testing performed on biopsy samples is subject to errors related to sampling and interference of contaminated bacteria. An ELISA test of the presence of H. pylori specific IgG antibody is the technique of choice for serologic tests because of its accuracy and simplicity.
Purified H. pylori antigen is coated on the surface of microwells.Diluted serum sample is added to the wells, and the H. pylori IgG- specific antibody, if present, binds to the antigen. All unbound materials are washed away. Enzyme conjugate is added, which binds to the antibody-antigen complex.Excess enzyme conjugate is washed off and substrate and chromogen are added. The enzyme conjugate catalytic reaction is stopped at a specific time.The intensity of the color generated is proportional to the amount of IgG-specific antibody in the sample. The results are read by a microwell reader compared in a parallel manner with calibrator and controls.
