title: How useful are high vaginal swabs in general practice? Results of a multicentre study.
abstract: Vulvovaginal symptoms are a common reason for consultation with a general practitioner (GP). High vaginal swabs (HVS) are used to investigate symptoms, but their usefulness is poorly evaluated and microbiological tests performed vary between laboratories. In this multicentre study of 797 women with genital symptoms attending GPs, diagnostic yield of HVS was poor except for Candida spp. (22%). There is an urgent need to establish the most cost-effective approach for the management of these women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genitourinary Medicine, Mortimer Market Centre, London, UK. eva.jungmann@camdenpct.nhs.uk
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jungmann
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ridgway
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Durrant
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014247:Trichomonas Vaginitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014621:Vagina / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*