Kaur, GurjeetMadhavan, ManoharanBasri, Amir HakimSain, Abdul Hamid MatHussain, Mohd Shaiful BahrunYatiban, Mohd KamalNaing, Nyi Nyi2009-05-272009-05-272004-09-04Kaur G, Madhavan M, Basri AH, Sain AH, Hussain MS, Yatiban MK, Naing NN. Rapid diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection in gastric imprint smears. The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health. 2004 Sep; 35(3): 676-80http://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/35105The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health.The objective of this study was to determine the sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV), and negative predictive values (NPV) of Diff-Quik-stained gastric imprint cytology smears in the detection of H. pylori compared with histology. Air-dried imprint smears of gastric biopsies from 150 patients were stained by the Diff-Quik method in the endoscopy suite and examined for H. pylori, providing results within minutes. The presence of inflammation and intestinal metaplasia were documented. The same biopsy was processed and stained with H&E and Warthin-Starry stains, and reviewed by a different pathologist blind to the imprint cytology results. Ninety-four of the 150 patients were male with a mean age of 50 years. Based on histology, the H. pylori prevalence was very low at 8%. The sensitivity and specificity of imprint cytology in the detection of H. pylori were 83.3% and 100%, respectively. The PPV and NPV were 100% and 98.6%, respectively. There were two false negatives and no false positives. A combination of imprint cytology and histology achieved 100% sensitivity. Imprint smears did not provide added value over histology with regards to inflammation and metaplasia. Gastric imprint smears stained with Diff-Quik method is a rapid, cheap, and reliable method for the detection of H. pylori and have their best results when complemented with histology.engAdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAzure Stains --diagnostic useBiopsyChildCytodiagnosis --methodsEndoscopy, Digestive SystemFemaleHelicobacter Infections --pathologyHelicobacter pylori --isolation & purificationHumansMaleMethylene Blue --diagnostic useMiddle AgedPredictive Value of TestsPyloric Antrum --microbiologyStaining and Labeling --methodsXanthenes --diagnostic useComparative Study