New Helicobacter pylori test detects active infection:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
The FDA has cleared a new test for H pylori infection, a cause of peptic ulcers, which may prove to be lower cost and easier to use than existing tests. The Premier Platinum HpSA is a direct antigen test which is carried out on stool samples and costs between $50 and $100 per patient. Meridian Diagnostics, its Cincinnati-based manufacturer, said the test is more specific than blood tests which can pick up inactive organisms and unlike breath testing, does not require the patient's diet to be modified before the test.