Background: The various histological methods of identification of Helicobacter pylori have different sensitivity and specificity with varying strengths and weaknesses in terms of cost and convenience. Aim: The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of Giemsa stain with Immunohistochemistry in diagnosing Helicobacter pylori in paraffin embedded tissue sections. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study done in a tertiary care centre for a period of 3 years. Multiple bits were taken from the lesion and the adjacent areas in random sample of 50 gastrectomy specimens and processed routinely for paraffin embedding. Sections were stained for Giemsa and immunohistochemistry apart from the routine Haematoxylin and eosin stain. Statistical Analysis: The data were entered and the statistical comparison between the two tests were done using SPSS software version 21. Results: Out of 50 cases of adenocarcinoma stomach, 39(78%) were males and 11(22%) were females. Out of 50 cases H.pylori was detected in 21 cases using Giemsa stain with 42% of positivity (Table.1). Out of 50 cases, Immunohistochemistry detected H.pylori in 25 cases (4 cases more than Giemsa) with a positivity rate of 50%. Conclusion: Sensitivity of Immunohistochemistry is more when compared with Giemsa special staining. Immunohistochemistry can be used to detect coccoid forms of Helicobacter pylori especially in screening for the presence of Helicobacter pylori in high risk patients and also in patients who had been treated with proton pump inhibitors and to confirm eradication following antibiotics against Helicobacter pylori.

Keywords: Helicobacter Pylori; Giemsa; Immunohistochemistry; Gastric Adenocarcinoma; Gastric Biopsy