Urease test - gastric or duodenal mucosa
Last updated: Friday, 19, March, 2004
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| Item | Process |
|---|---|
| Specimen | Gastric or duodenal endoscopic biopsy. |
| Method | Bacterial urease is detected by a colour change when urea is hydrolysed to ammonia. |
| Application | Detection of Helicobacter pylori in gastric or duodenal mucosa. |
| Interpretation | Presence of urease activity is very suggestive of the presence of H. pylori, but this test is less sensitive than histology of gastric biopsy for the detection of H. pylori. |
| Reference | Dunn BE et al. Clin Microbiol Rev 1997; 10: 720-741. |