title: Evaluation of the Oricult-N dipslide for laboratory diagnosis of vaginal candidiasis.
abstract: The Oricult-N semiquantitative dipslide (Orion Diagnostica, Espoo, Finland) was evaluated for the laboratory diagnosis of vaginal candidiasis. It was compared with broth culture (Vagicult; Orion Diagnostica). Oricult-N was positive for 14.5% of 124 symptomatic patients and 12% of 50 asymptomatic controls. The results for broth cultures were 17 and 22%, respectively. Thus, the test group and the control group did not differ significantly by either method. High vaginal yeast counts (>/=10(5) CFU/ml) were detected by Oricult-N in 7% of patients and in 0% of controls, but both groups harbored low numbers of yeasts. An accurate quantitative cutoff point separating a level of yeast associated with infection from vaginal yeast carriage could not be defined in the study. Nevertheless, the easy semiquantitation allowed by the Oricult-N method could be helpful because, especially in low-count carriers of Candida, other potential causes of vaginal symptoms should be considered. The Oricult-N method was technically simple and could be applied in primary health care. Further studies are required, however, before Oricult-N can be recommended as a routine diagnostic tool.
authors.affiliation: Division of Bacteriology, HUCH Diagnostics, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. petteri.carlson@huch.fi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paavonen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002175:Candida / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002353:Carrier State / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011934:Reagent Strips; D012016:Reference Values; D014627:Vaginitis / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D011934:Reagent Strips