Test Directory

Test Code
HELIS
Test Name
Helicobacter pylori Culture and Susceptibilities
CPT Codes
87081
Expected Turnaround Time
7 - 28 days
Clinical Utility
Recovery of Helicobacter pylori from gastric specimens for antimicrobial susceptibility testing of the organism (amoxicillin, clarithromycin, levofloxacin, metronidazole, rifampin, and tetracycline are routinely tested)
Specimen and Container Info

Specimen Type: Tissue or Biopsy

Alternate Specimen Type: Gastric Fluid

Collection Container: Sterile Container

Desired Specimen Volume: 0.5 x 0.2 x 0.2 cm size tissue

Alternate Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL fluid

Collection Instructions
  1. Collect biopsy tissue in sterile saline or gastric fluid in a sterile container.
Processing and Submission Instructions
  1. Transport in the original collection container.
Transport Instructions

Transport to the laboratory refrigerated. 

Stability Requirements

Refrigerated

48 hours
Causes for Rejection
  • Biopsy submitted in fluid other than sterile saline
Methodology
Conventional Culture Technique with Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) (Agar Dilution or Broth Microdilution or Gradient Diffusion) or Disk Diffusion if appropriate
Reference Intervals

See patient report.

Limitations

Culture-negative results may occur due to the fastidious nature of the organism. Delays in specimen transportation will decrease recovery of the organism. Culture should be set up as soon as possible following specimen collection. Antimicrobial therapy may render the culture negative.

Due to Helicobacter pylori's fastidious nature and slow growth, it may take 7 days to recover the organism and up to an additional 21 days to perform antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

When antimicrobial susceptibilities are performed, in vitro susceptibility does not guarantee clinical response. Therefore, the decision to treat with a particular agent should not be based solely on the antimicrobial susceptibility, testing result. The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute has defined interpretive categories for clarithromycin. The antimicrobials for which the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing has defined interpretive categories include amoxicillin, clarithromycin, levofloxacin, metronidazole rifampin, and tetracycline.

Alternate Names
  • Amoxicillin
  • Clarithromycin
  • Levofloxacin
  • Metronidazole
  • Tetracycline
  • Rifampin
  • Helicobacter
  • H pylori
Reference Lab
Mayo Clinic Laboratories
Testing Schedule
Routine, daily