ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The aim of this work was to find a reliable nested PCR for the detection of Helicobacter pylori in biopsy, stool, and saliva specimens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Novel nested PCR was elaborated and validated on 81 clinical biopsy, stool, and saliva samples from the same individual and compared to available H pylori assays: histology, rapid urease test (RUT), stool antigen test (SAT), 13 C-urea breath test (UBT). RESULTS: The efficiency and selectivity of 17 published nested polymerase chain reactions (PCR) available for Helicobacter pylori detection were re-evaluated. Most of them had serious limitations and mistakes in primer design. Hence, we elaborated a nested PCR for the unambiguous identification of H pylori in biopsy, stool, and saliva, using primers targeted to variable regions of the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene. Moreover, we determined the detection limit by adding a known number of cells. This number was as low as 0.5 cells in a PCR vial, but due to the DNA isolation procedures, it required 1-5 × 103 cells/g or ml of specimen. The sensitivity for nested PCR from stomach biopsies was on the same scale as 13 C-UBT (93.8%), but it was much lower in amplifications from stool (31.3%). Sequencing of all obtained PCR products exclusively confirmed H pylori-specific DNA sequences. CONCLUSIONS: Elaborated nested PCR assay can serve as an auxiliary method for controversial samples (patients with bleeding or taking proton-pump inhibitor) in laboratories with basic equipment. The sensitivity and specificity for the amplification from gastric biopsies was almost like 13 C-UBT. Despite the good sensitivity, the threshold occurrence and the ability to survive in the oral cavity aside from and independent of the stomach is the reason why H pylori DNA cannot be reliably detected in saliva, stool, and some biopsy samples.