Detection of pepsin in sputum: a rapid and objective measure of airways reflux

The diagnostic test, Peptest (RD Biomed Ltd, Cottingham, UK), detects pepsin in expectorated saliva and is established as a simple, noninvasive measure of reflux of gastric contents. It has been used to detect pepsin A in patients with both gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) and extra-oesophageal reflux into the laryngopharynx and airways [1–5]. Detection of salivary pepsin (Peptest) may be a useful adjunct in the diagnosis of airway...