| (Microbiology) |
| Investigations | Detection of Helicobacter pylori antigens in faeces specimens |
Inform lab before sending | No | Specimen type | Faeces | Ideal time to take specimen | As soon as possible after the onset of symptoms and during episode of diarrhoea | Labelling requirements | click here | How to take the specimen | A blue sterile universal container with spoon, a sterile white capped universal, or a sputum pot. The specimen container should not be filled to the brim. A walnut sized portion of stool or about 10ml of liquid faeces is sufficient. | Transport to the laboratory | As soon as possible. If transport is delayed then refrigerate. Specimen transport - RLBUHT: Samples should be transported and tested as soon as possible. Specimen transport - Aintree: Specimens are sent by courier to RLUH. The samples may be stored at 2-8°C for up to three days without interference with the assay performance. |
Test Times | Twice weekly | Turnround | Up to 72 hrs, excluding weekends | Additional information |
| Additional Examination Requests | Please ensure that any requests for additional investigations on the specimen are made within 7 days from the date of the original request. |
| Investigations | Culture for Helicobacter pylori |
Inform lab before sending | Yes - 24hr hour advance warning to request Dents transport medium | Specimen type | Gastric biopsy in Dents transport medium (obtained from Microbiology ) | Ideal time to take specimen | H. pylori culture and sensitivities on gastric biopsies should be considered after the first treatment failure if an endoscopy is carried out. Following a second treatment failure, culture and sensitivity should be performed on all cases. Ideally biopsies should be taken before antimicrobial therapy is begun, however a ‘test and treat’ strategy for the diagnosis of H. pylori is recommend by NICE and therefore most samples referred for culture will be due to treatment failure. A period of at least two weeks should have elapsed since the last dose of antimicrobial therapy before the collection of the specimen. Gastric biopsy specimens are usually taken from the gastric antrum at endoscopy, and sometimes from the main body of the stomach depending on location of inflammation. Duodenal biopsies will be taken in cases with duodenal ulcers. |
Labelling requirements | click here | How to take the specimen | Place tissue in DENT broth provided or if no broth available, a sterile universal container with a few drops of saline to prevent drying. If transport is delayed then store at +4°C. | Transport to the laboratory | As soon as possible following collection | Test Times | Monday to Friday | Turnround | 15 days from receipt in Reference Laboratory | Additional information | Sent to Public Health England, Gastrointestinal Bacteria Referral Laboratory Reference Laboratory request to avoid sending samples on Fridays |
| Additional Examination Requests |
| Investigations | Helicobacter pylori Serology Tests H. pylori IgG Note: H. pylori Stool Antigen test (recommended test) is available from the Microbiology laboratory. |
Inform lab before sending | No | Specimen type | Clotted blood: 5ml Clot activator and separation gel (GOLD CAPPED) container. | Ideal time to take specimen | Labelling requirements | click here | How to take the specimen | Transport to the laboratory | If transport is delayed then store at +4°C | Test Times | Weekly | Turnround | 5 working days | Additional information |
| Additional Examination Requests | click here |