Use of CLO test in the detection of Helicobacter pylori infection and its correlation with histologic gastritis.

Campylobacter pylon or campylobacter like organisms (CLO) are curved bacilli which are found on the gastric mucosa of patients suffering from gastritis, peptic ulceration and other related diseases. These organisms were later renamed as helicobacter pylori. The diagnosis of HP is usually made on histology, culture, urease tests and serology. Although all these tests are 60-100% sensitive and specific but all, except urease test, give results in 48-72 hours. The CLO test is a rapid urease test which, in 75% of the cases, turns the yellow gel into pink within 20 min of incubation and by 1 hour, 85% of the positive individuals would be picked up. The results are, therefore, available before the patient leaves the endoscopy room or the hospital. The gross appearance of the mucosa at endoscopy is of no value in detecting H. pylon infection and the macroscopic appearance ircinfected persons ranges from a completely normal mucosato ulceration. To determine the frequency of HP infection and histologic gastritis in our patients a study was done in 100 consecutive patients undergoing endoscopy for various reasons and correlate CLO positivity with gastritis and the presence of bacteria within the tissue.