What test is more efficient 24-hr pH test or standard (longer) test? I am suffering from GERD and I am interested know what is difference and how it works ?
The 24-hr pH test has been used as a diagnostic tool to assess GERD in those patients with reflux symptoms and a normal endoscopy. I read somewhere about research that has been made with GERD patients. It was “3-hr postprandial test”. The aim of the research was to determine whether analyzing a 3-hr postprandial period from a full 24-hr study would be as sensitive as the longer test. Shortly, results of the patients with a positive 24-hr test were compared with results of patients with normal tests. It turned out that the 3-hr postprandial test had a sensitivity of 88% when compared to the 24-hour test and a specificity of 98%. So, value was 100% for the 3-hr test and for 24-hour test was 95%.