Microabscesses in gastric biopsies shown by acridine orange staining.

Acridine orange staining of endoscopic biopsies of gastric mucosa was used in 70 patients with various upper gastrointestinal symptoms to identify Campylobacter pylori abscess formations with polymorphonuclear leucocyte infiltration. In comparison with cultures, the staining test proved to be a rapid and reliable test particularly in outpatient clinics as results are available in 6-8 min, thus enabling any necessary treatment to start immediately.