AIM:Helicobacter pylori can be diagnosed by invasive ornon-invasive tests but to obtain bacteria for culture andantibiotic susceptibility testing,an upper GI endoscopy isoften required.The string test may be a minimally-invasivealternative method of obtaining H.pylorisamples.This studyevaluates the sensitivity and specificity of the string test inthe diagnosis of H.pylori in comparison with endoscopicmeans of diagnosis.METHODS:This was a prospective open comparative studyof patients with dyspepsia with endoscopy-based tests asgold standard(defined as a positive CLO test and antralhistology).Fasting patients swallowed the encapsulated-string(Entero-test Hp),which was withdrawn after i hour.Thegastric juice from the string was plated onto H.pylori-selectivemedia for culture.Helicobacter pyloriwas identified by typicalcolony morphology,gram stain and biochemical test results.RESULTS:Thirty dyspeptic patients were recruited of whom21(70 %)were positive for H.pyloriaccording to the goldstandard.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,and negative predictive value for the string test were 38 %,100 %,100 % and 41% respectively,and for endoscopicbiopsies 81%,100 %,100 %,69 % respectively(P=0.004).Logistic regression showed that only abundant growthdensity from endoscopic biopsy cultures to be a predictor ofa positive string test(P=0.018).CONCLUSION:The string test is an alternative method toendoscopy in obtaining H.pyloribut has a low sensitivitycompared to endoscopic biopsies. AIM: Helicobacter pylori can be diagnosed by invasive or non-invasive tests but to obtain bacteria for culture andantibiotic susceptibility testing, an upper GI endoscopy isoften required. The string test may be minimal-invasive alternative method of obtaining H.pylorisamples.This studyevaluates the sensitivity and specificity of the string test inthe diagnosis of H. pylori in comparison with endoscopicmeans of diagnosis. METHODS: This was a prospective open comparative study of patients with dyspepsia with endoscopy-based tests asgold standard (defined as a positive CLO test and antralhistology) .Fasting patients swallowed the encapsulated-string (Entero-test Hp), which was withdrawn after i hour. The gastric juice from the string was plated onto H. pylori-selectivemedia for culture. Helicobacter pylori was identified by typicalcolony morphology, gram stain and biochemical test results. RESULTS: Thirty dyspeptic patients were recruited of whom21 (70%) were positive for H.pyloriaccording to the goldstan dard. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for the string test were 38%, 100%, 100% and 41% respectively, and for endoscopic biopsies 81%, 100%, 100%, 69% respectively = 0.004). Logistic regression showed that only bare growth density from endoscopic biopsy cultures to be a predictor of a positive string test (P = 0.018) .CONCLUSION: The string test is an alternative method to endoscopy in obtaining H. pyloribut has a low sensitivity compared to endoscopic biopsies.