TABLE 2.

Comparison of performances of PCR-based detection assays targeting the H. pylori vacA and 16S rRNA genes with culture from the two sets of gastric biopsy samples

Culture result	No. of samples with indicated result in biopsy set:
	1a(n = 39) by test for:				2b(n = 121) by test for:
	vacA		16S rRNA		vacA		16S rRNA
	+	−	+	−	+	−	+	−
+	36	3	36	3	15	2	14	3
−	nac	na	na	na	1d	103	3d	101

^aH. pylori-positive status confirmed prior to analyses. 

^bH. pylori status unknown at time of analyses. 

^cna, not applicable. 

^dOne culture-negative biopsy sample was positive for both PCR assays.