title: Enumeration of clue cells in rehydrated air-dried vaginal wet smears for the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis.
abstract: Among 235 women attending an outpatient clinic, the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis was made using three of the following four criteria: typical discharge, pH more than 4.5, positive amine sniff test, and clue cells in a wet smear. These findings were correlated with the finding of clue cells in air-dried wet smears rehydrated more than 1 month after the visit. The rehydrated specimens had the same microscopic appearance as a nonpreserved wet smear. The demonstration of clue cells in the rehydrated smears correlated with the composite diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis with a sensitivity of 96% and specificity of 98%. In a busy multi-physician setting, the scoring of clue cells in stored and rehydrated smears can be used to obtain consistent readings for wet-smear diagnostics, thus simplifying teaching and increasing the utility of wet smears in clinical research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Central Hospital, Skövde, Sweden.
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Platz-Christensen
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006194:Gardnerella vaginalis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D014627:Vaginitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*