Introduction

Abstract

Increasing awareness of the role of H. pylori in gastroduodenal diseases has necessitated the rapid development of non-invasive diagnostic techniques. To date the available non-invasive techniques include the urea breath test and serodiagnosis. Serological methods have significant advantages over breath tests, being cheap, simple, and generally available in most routine laboratories. The increased use of these serological tests, for diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and epidemiological studies over the past few years, and the rapidly increasing use of commercially available kits has revealed many potential problems. The aim of this workshop was to highhght and discuss the problems associated with the development and application of the serodiagnosis of H. pylori infection. Many of the presentations at this, the IVth European Workshop on H. pylori and Gastroduodenal Disease, utilized serology as an investigative tool. A review of these presentations has allowed the identification of both the technical difficulties and those problems associated with the apphcation and interpretation of the results. Such problems can be illustrated as a series of questions.