Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis of Distal Vaginal Specimens: A Less Invasive Strategy for Detection of Trichomonas vaginalis

We compared polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of specimens obtained from the distal vagina with wet mount microscopy and culture of specimens from the posterior vaginal fornix. One or all three techniques revealed that 61 (20.3%) of 300 women tested were positive for Trichomonas vaginalis. PC...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical infectious diseases 1997-05, Vol.24 (5), p.985-987
Main Authors: Heine, R. Phillips, Wiesenfeld, Harold C., Sweet, Richard L., Witkin, Steven S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Cell Culture Techniques
Evaluation Studies as Topic
Female
General aspects
Gynecological examination
Gynecology
Human infectious diseases. Experimental studies and models
Humans
Infections
Infectious diseases
Medical sciences
Microscopy
Microscopy - methods
Obstetrics
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Sensitivity and Specificity
Sexually transmitted diseases
Specimens
Surgical instruments
Trichomonas vaginalis
Trichomonas vaginalis - isolation & purification
Trichomonas Vaginitis - diagnosis
Vagina
Vagina - cytology
Vagina - parasitology
Vaginal Smears
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Summary:We compared polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of specimens obtained from the distal vagina with wet mount microscopy and culture of specimens from the posterior vaginal fornix. One or all three techniques revealed that 61 (20.3%) of 300 women tested were positive for Trichomonas vaginalis. PCR analysis of distal vaginal specimens detected 56 (91.8%) of 61 infections, while wet mount microscopy and culture detected 49 (80.3%) of 61 infections. Results of this study may impact the approach to testing for T. vaginalis by eliminating the requirement of a vaginal speculum examination. The distal vagina is an appropriate testing site for T. vaginalis by PCR analysis.
ISSN:1058-4838
1537-6591
DOI:10.1093/clinids/24.5.985