Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of invasive methods including urease and culture with non-invasive methods including serology and stool antigen tests.

Materials and Methods: Various methods were used to determine the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori positivity in these patients. Urease test and culture were taken from biopsy specimens, ImmunoCard HpSA and HpSA ELISA were utilized for the detection of antigen in stool and ELISA methods were used to investigate serum Helicobacter pylori IgG and IgA Helicobacter pylori antibodies.

Results: The sensitivity and specificity of these diagnostic methods were evaluated according to the culture results. For H. pylori IgG, sensitivity was 54.5%, specificity was 51%; For H. pylori IgA, sensitivity revealed 27% and specificity was 89%; The sensitivity for the urease test was detected as 90% and the specificity revealed 41%; For the ELISA HpSA assay, the sensitivity was 72%, the specificity was 20%, and for the ImmunoCard HpSA, the sensitivity was 81%, the specificity was detected as 3%.

Conclusions: Helicobacter pylori culture is a difficult diagnostic method, which is time consuming, requires experienced personnel and its sensitivity is lower than the urease test. However, urease test is a quick, cheap, easy, and remarkably high sensitive diagnostic method. Non-invasive diagnostic methods include ImmunoCard, HpSA and ELISA HpSA tests, which are effective tests with close sensitivities and used in diagnosis and treatment follow-up. Since the sensitivity of ImmunoCard HpSA and ELISA HpSA tests are close to the sensitivity of urease test, it is considered, that these tests may be helpful in diagnosis.