Current role of Helicobacter pylori stool tests.

Helicobacter pylori stool tests are an accurate and noninvasive tool to assess H. pylori status before and after treatment. We are convinced that the current technical shortcomings of H. pylori stool tests, i.e. inter-test variability and reduced specificity after treatment, can be overcome in the near future. The availability of an office-based stool test would offer a considerable advantage since it could be performed in any private practice without further delay. However, it remains to be seen whether the reluctance of patients to collect stool specimens will have an impact on its general use.