A novel loop-mediated isothermal amplification-lateral flow dipstick method for Helicobacter pylori detection

Introduction To eradicate Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and reduce the risk of gastric cancer, a sensitive, specific, convenient, and simple detection method is needed. This study aimed to establish a novel loop-mediated isothermal amplification-lateral flow dipstick (LAMP-LFD) method for H. pylori detection. Methods LAMP primer design software was used to design primers for the conserved sites of the H. pylori ureB gene. UreB-FIP-labeled biotin was used for LAMP amplification, and FAM-labeled probes were specifically hybridized with LAMP amplification products, which were then detected by LFD. In addition, a clinical study was conducted to assess LAMP-LFD in 20 fecal samples. Results The results of the optimization indicated that H. pylori could be specifically detected by LFD without cross-reaction with other non-H. pylori bacteria when the LAMP was performed at 65°C for 60 min. The lower limit of the detection method was 102 copies/μL, which was 100 times the sensitivity of polymerase chain reaction (PCR). H. pylori-positive fecal samples were detected by LAMP-LFD in 13/20 patients. Discussion In conclusion, a new LAMP-LFD assay has been fully established and confirmed for H. pylori detection. The entire process can be completed in approximately 1.5 h, with the advantages of strong specificity, high sensitivity, and simple operation. This study provides a novel potential method for the detection of H. pylori in the clinical settings of primary hospitals and low-resource countries.