Howdy folks,
I've a question I'm hoping someone on the board might be able to help answer (especially Tex, what with all your pretty detailed and fancy knowledge of lab testing stuff). I just got a stool culture test result for my son, and it has, apparently, two tests for H Pylori. One is an EIA test (enzyme immunoassay). The other is a molecular probe. The molecular probe test for H Pylori is positive, while the EIA test is negative. I've begun searching the internet for details on these testing methods, their specificity, sensitivity, and so on. Haven't found the jackpot yet. Does anyone know about these testing methods, and how good (or not-so-good) they are?
thanks.
OMF.
EIA vs. Molecular probe test method
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ObsessedMrFixit
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To be honest, I'm not familiar with those tests. I just know that it's not easy to get good, reliable test results for H. pylori.
Based on the names of the tests, I would guess that the EIA test might be based on the detection of antigens that are associated with H. pylori. At least, EIA tests usually are designed to look for specific antigens.
I would guess that the moleular probe looks for DNA associated with H. pylori.
Just making a WAEG, my take would be that the EIA test would be much more reliable than a DNA test, because virtually everyone has some level of H. pylori populations in their stomach, so one would expect the DNA test to be positive.
As you are well aware, I'm not a medical professional, so I could be all wet with my interpretations of these tests. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.
Tex
Based on the names of the tests, I would guess that the EIA test might be based on the detection of antigens that are associated with H. pylori. At least, EIA tests usually are designed to look for specific antigens.
I would guess that the moleular probe looks for DNA associated with H. pylori.
Just making a WAEG, my take would be that the EIA test would be much more reliable than a DNA test, because virtually everyone has some level of H. pylori populations in their stomach, so one would expect the DNA test to be positive.
As you are well aware, I'm not a medical professional, so I could be all wet with my interpretations of these tests. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.