Saving resources in relation to ultrafast urease test

In the Digestive Department of the Alto Guadalquivir Health Agency, we recently acquired the ultrafast urease test for the detection of Helicobacter pylori infection (BioHit Helicobacter pylori UFT300, Biomed S.A. Madrid, Spain), replacing the existing Campylobacter-like organism (CLO) test (Kimberly-Clark Ballard Medical Products, Roswell, GA, USA).

The new testing method was acquired mainly for the direct and indirect savings in resources and expenditure it is expected to bring. Diagnostic accuracy at 24 h¹ is similar in both tests (CLO test vs UFT300: sensitivity [S]: 100–97.5%; specificity [SP]: 99.3–99.3%; positive predictive value [PPV]: 97.5–97.5%; negative predictive value [NPV]: 100–99.3%; p = ns), but the UFT300 has shown greater sensitivity after an early reading at minute 1, and particularly at minute 5^2,3 with respect to the CLO test (S: 94.5–2.5%, p < 0.05; SP: 100–100%, p = ns).

In an outpatient department in which we review all patients after endoscopy, this new test, as demonstrated by Dr Koumi et al.,¹ will result in an economic saving and a saving of resources as it will eliminate at least one appointment by providing immediate test results and allowing the specialist to prescribe the necessary treatment in a single consultation.