Background Helicobacter pylori infection is a common infection that affects the human being. This infection also affects the children. Different diagnostic methods such as serology, stool antigen detection, rapid urease test and histology detect this microorganism. The aim of this study was to determined correlation between serology and histology/rapid urease test.

Methods Two groups were selected and matched for age and sex. Seventy seven children with confirmed H. pylori infection as they had positive rapid urease test and histology concomitantly were compared with 77 healthy children. Both case and control groups checked serologically for detection of anti H. pylori IgM, IgG and IgA antibody titers.

Results Three Cut-off points were 3.3 U/ML for IgA, 6.4 U/ML for IgM, and 9.9 U/ML for IgG. Antibody titers were compared with gold standard methods including histologic and rapid ureas tests. IgA level had a sensitivity of 64%, specificity of 58%, accuracy of 59.3%, positive predictive value of 31.5%, and negative predictive value of 76.9%. IgM level had a sensitivity of 76%, specificity of 36.1%, accuracy of 74.2%, positive predictive value of 31.5%, and negative predictive value of 76.9%. IgG level had a sensitivity of 58.6%, specificity of 61.3%, accuracy of 60.6%, positive predictive value of 36.9%, and negative predictive value of 79.3%.

Conclusion These antibodies have a relatively high negative predictive value and a low positive predictive value. So, their negative results are more valuable. The most sensitive antibody is IgM and most specific antibody is IgG.