Rapid immunochromatographic tests for Helicobacter pylori infection have been 
developed to allow "near-patient" testing. We therefore performed a pilot study 
to test a rapid immunochromatographic stool antigen test for the diagnosis of H. 
pylori infection in asymptomatic children. We tested stool specimens collected 
from children participating in a cohort study in the United States and Mexico. 
H. pylori-positive status was defined by positivity on at least 2 tests: a 
commercial H. pylori stool antigen enzyme immunoassay, an immunoglobulin G 
antibody enzyme immunoassay, and the C-urea breath test. Negative H. pylori 
status was defined by negative findings of all of these tests. Of 52 children 
(22 girls, 30 boys) 25 were H. pylori-positive, 19 H. pylori-negative, and 8 
uncertain (eg, presumably negative; positive findings on 1 of the 3 noninvasive 
tests). The sensitivity and specificity of the new stool antigen test for those 
with definite H. pylori status were 100% (exact 95% CI 86.3%-100% and 
82.4%-100%, respectively). This rapid stool antigen test may prove useful for 
point-of-care testing and epidemiological field studies. Larger prospective 
studies are needed in symptomatic and asymptomatic children for more precise 
estimates.