The sheet "study data" contains the final data from the LUMINEX reader corrected for bead background, GST background and day to day normalization excluding all controls.

Columns A to J are self-explanatory.

The H.pylori classification in multiplex serology follows in column K (1 = pos, 0 = neg) according to the number of recognized antigens (MFI > Cut-off) in column L.

Sera is classified as H. pylori positive if more than 3 different antigens are recognized out of 15 (GroEl, UreA, HP0231, NapA, HP0305, HpaA, Cagδ, CagM, CagA, HyuA, Catalase, VacA, HcpC, Cad and Omp).

The data is in column N to AT

The antigen specific cut-offs are indicated in row 1 above the respective antigens. They were calculated (mean MFI + 3x SD excl. positive outliers) in 46 H. pylori negative sera run within the assay.

The trivial names of H.pylori proteins are indicated in row 3, recombinant proteins derived from other strains than 26695 are indicated in brackets behind the name.

In case of CagA, VacA, HyuA and HomB we had to express the protein into an N-and C-terminal fragment but sum up the MFI values of both as CagA, VacA, HyuA or HomB specific MFI values.

For CagA type specific diagnosis, we included CC-subfragments of strain G27 (WESTERN type) and D-subfragment of strain F32 (EASTERN type)

For VacA strain specific diagnosis we included RHM [1s,4as] from strains 26695, G27, J99, 11638 and p58 fragment of strain J99.

HomB is an Outer membrane protein of H.pylori just recently added to HpMS.

JC and BK VP1 function as internal control antigens of widespread Polyomavirus infections if sera have been pipetted at all.

I hope these explanations were sufficient. If not, please let me know!

Regards, Angelika