Title: Clinical application of capsule sponge testing in symptomatic reflux disease: a national
prospective cohort study
Version: 3 Date: 17 Sep 2024
Reviewer:  Maged Tharwat Elghannam
Reviewer's report:
The authors aimed retrospectively to evaluate the value of capsule sponge tests in cases with
reflux symptoms with positive or negative biomarkers to eliminate the need for EGD and to
decrease the costs. This is important during the epidemics. The most important point is the false
negative tests.
I have a few comments:
-The capsule sponge test is not that familiar to many doctors and it is better to be mentioned in
more detail in the methodology section.
-CytoSCOT (Scottish Cytology Oesophageal Test) program. I think this needs a few details.
-12% had false positive tests. Can you add an explanation to this high figure?
-In the limitations section,  you must include that it is a retrospective study.
Title: Clinical application of capsule sponge testing in symptomatic reflux disease: a national
prospective cohort study
Version: 3 Date: 17 Sep 2024
Reviewer:  Maged Tharwat Elghannam
Reviewer's report:
The authors aimed retrospectively to evaluate the value of capsule sponge tests in cases with
reflux symptoms with positive or negative biomarkers to eliminate the need for EGD and to
decrease the costs. This is important during the epidemics. The most important point is the false
negative tests.
I have a few comments:
-The capsule sponge test is not that familiar to many doctors and it is better to be mentioned in
more detail in the methodology section.
-CytoSCOT (Scottish Cytology Oesophageal Test) program. I think this needs a few details.
-12% had false positive tests. Can you add an explanation to this high figure?
-In the limitations section,  you must include that it is a retrospective study.
Please review this paper.
user
Title: Clinical application of capsule sponge testing in symptomatic reflux disease: a national
prospective cohort study
Version: 3 Date: 17 Sep 2024
Reviewer:  Maged Tharwat Elghannam
Reviewer's report:
The authors aimed retrospectively to evaluate the value of capsule sponge tests in cases with
reflux symptoms with positive or negative biomarkers to eliminate the need for EGD and to
decrease the costs. This is important during the epidemics. The most important point is the false
negative tests.
I have a few comments:
-The capsule sponge test is not that familiar to many doctors and it is better to be mentioned in
more detail in the methodology section.
-CytoSCOT (Scottish Cytology Oesophageal Test) program. I think this needs a few details.
-12% had false positive tests. Can you add an explanation to this high figure?
-In the limitations section,  you must include that it is a retrospective study.
assistant