Clinical aspects of serology in the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection

Aim: To assess the value of serology in the clinical diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection. Method: Survey of recent studies. Results: The detection of anti-H. pylori antibodies is a rapid, cheap, sensitive and specific technique for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection. Although it is the technique of choice in many laboratories, its clinical value remains unclear. Since the serology test is non-invasive and easy to use, it has been proposed as a pre-endoscopic screening procedure. However, with present strategies, the sensitivity and specificity of the test are insufficient for this purpose. Conclusion: At present, the most appropriate clinical use of serological testing for H. pylori is in monitoring the effectiveness of anti-H. pylori treatments and following up treated patients.