title: Use of DNA hybridization test for diagnosing bacterial vaginosis in women with symptoms suggestive of infection.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a DNA hybridization test (Affirm VPIII) as an alternative to Gram stain for the rapid diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis in women with clinical signs of vaginal infection. Vaginal specimens were collected from 321 symptomatic women, and analyzed for bacterial vaginosis by both Gram stain using Nugent criteria and DNA hybridization test. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the DNA hybridization test were determined using the Gram staining as the standard for diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis. Of the 321 patients, 115 (35.8%) were Gram positive for bacterial vaginosis and 126 (39.2%) were negative. 80 patients (25.0%) demonstrated intermediate Gram staining that was also considered negative. The Affirm system detected G. vaginalis in 107 (93.0%) of 115 vaginal specimens positive for bacterial vaginosis diagnosed by Gram stain. Compared to the Gram stain, DNA hybridization test had a sensitivity of 87.7% and a specificity of 96.0%. Positive and negative predictive values of the DNA hybridization test were 93.0% and 92.7%, respectively. In conclusion, Affirm VPIII hybridization test correlated well with Gram stain and may be used as a rapid diagnostic tool to exclude bacterial vaginosis in women with genital complaints.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Celal Bayar University, School of Medicine, Manisa, Turkey. horugazi@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Horu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gazi
authors.forename: Kenan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Degerli
authors.forename: Ozgur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kurt
authors.forename: Asli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Teker
authors.forename: Yildiz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Uyar
authors.forename: Husnu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Caglar
authors.forename: Semra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kurutepe
authors.forename: Suheyla
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Surucuoglu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006194:Gardnerella vaginalis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial