A 55-year-old female patient presents with duodenal ulcer. The most sensitive test to detect Helicobacter pylori is: (A) Urea breath test, (B) culture, (C) Histology, (D) Serology
Answer is A. Urea breath test is the most sensitive test for diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection. Urea breath test: The patient drinks a solution of urea labeled with a radioactive Carbon-14 and then blows into a tube. If H. pylori urease is present, the urea is hydrolyzed, and labeled carbon dioxide is detected in breath samples. Reference: Ananthanarayan and Paniker&;s Textbook of Microbiology Tenth edition