Helicobacter pylori detection methods in complex samples: a mini-review

Abstract

Helicobacter Pylori (HP) bacteria is considered a very dangerous pathogen with about half the earth population are host. It infects the human gastrointestinal tract causing permanent damages that may lead to cancer. The exact routes of Helicobacter pylori infection transmission is still not fully investigated. Thus, the in-vitro detection of HP is very important in monitoring infections at its early stages and in contaminated mediums like food and water. Literature reports several techniques and approaches to detect HP in-vitro, but mostly with the cost of complex instruments, excessive sample processing and time consuming test methods making them not suitable for affordable routine procedure. This paper contributes in briefly reviewing the few recent detection methods of HP in-vitro. Experience of authors in HP in-vitro detection is presented. The influence of the detection method on sensitivity, selectivity and on compatibility with point-of-care devices is overviewed. Major types of sensors based on antigen-antibody interaction or DNA hybridization are discussed.