The emergency department diagnosis of Trichomonas vaginitis.
Trichomonas vaginalis is a common cause of vaginitis in emergency department patient populations. While the diagnosis of this condition is usually on the basis of wet-mount microscope slide preparations, other diagnostic technology exists. We studied the accuracy of the traditional wet-mount technique as compared with detection using direct immunofluorescence and culture techniques in ED patients with the presenting complaint of vaginal discharge. Of 157 patients evaluated, the wet-mount technique detected 27 cases of Trichomonas, compared with 35 cases diagnosed by direct immunofluorescence and 52 cases detected by culture. This represents a false-negative rate for the wet-mount technique of 51%; the false-negative rates for direct immunofluorescence and culture technique were 36% and 5%, respectively. Our study suggests that the wet-mount technique is relatively insensitive in the detection of Trichomonas vaginitis.
Bennett
J R
JR
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine.
Barnes
W G
WG
Coffman
S
S
D000818:Animals; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014247:Trichomonas Vaginitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis / Q000302:isolation & purification