RAC: Regular arrangement of collecting venules; H.pylori: Helicobacter pylori; TP: True positives; TN: True negatives; FP: False positives; FN: False negatives; HD: High Definition; IHC: Immunohistochemistry; CLO: Campylobacter-like organism; RUT: rapid urease test; UBT: urea breath test; SAT: stool antigen test; HE: hematoxylin-eosin.

Fig. 1 The PRISMA flow diagram of the systematic review and meta-analysis.

Fig. 2 Sensitivity and specificity of RAC for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection.

Fig. 3 Summary receiver operating characteristic curve of the accuracy of RAC for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection.

Fig. 4 Fagan nomogram of RAC for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection.

Fig. 5 Likelihood ratio scattergram of RAC for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection.

Fig. S1 Quality assessment of the included studies.

Fig. S2 Likelihood ratios of RAC for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection.

Fig. S3 Diagnostic odds ratio of RAC for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection.

Fig. S4 Deeks’ funnel plot for assessing the publication bias of RAC for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection.

Fig. S5 Univariable meta-regression and subgroup analyses for RAC in the diagnosis of H. pylori infection. (Variable 1, Exclusion of past Hp infection; Variable 2, A single reference standard for H.pylori infection; Variable 3, Consecutive enrollment.)

Table S1 Detailed search strategies used in this meta-analysis

Table S2 Studies excluded in this meta-analysis according to the PRISMA flow diagram