Evaluation of 16S rRNA gene-based PCR assays for genus-level identification of Helicobacter species

The inclusivity, exclusivity, and detection limit of six 16S rRNA gene-based Helicobacter genus-specific PCR assays were examined. Five out of six assays were 100% inclusive, but the tests varied considerably in their exclusivity (9.1 to 95.5%). The clinical detection limit varied between 10(3) and 1 viable bacterial cell per reaction mixture.