Trichomonas vaginalis transcription-mediated amplification-based analyte-specific reagent and alternative target testing of primary clinical vaginal saline suspensions.
Following wet mount analysis, 255 vaginal saline suspensions were aliquoted to lysis medium for transcription-mediated amplification (TMA)-based Trichomonas vaginalis analyte-specific reagent testing (ASR) (Gen-Probe, San Diego, CA). Specimens with visible T. vaginalis were then refrigerated, with additional aliquoting at later intervals. Twenty-four wet mount-positive specimens (9.4%) yielded a median luminescent value (x1000, relative light unit [RLU]) of 4736. In contrast, RLU ranged from 1 to 21 following ASR of 204 wet mount-negative specimens. Twenty-seven wet mount-negative specimens (10.5%) were positive by ASR and subsequently positive via T. vaginalis alternative target TMA (Gen-Probe). Discrepancies were additionally resolved by demonstration of T. vaginalis nucleic acid from a separate endocervical collection. T. vaginalis nucleic acid was detectable following prolonged storage, following minimal incubation in lysis medium, and from low-volume aliquots of sparsely populated specimens. T. vaginalis ASR adequately detects T. vaginalis from vaginal saline suspension aliquots, providing a simple specimen alternative for a highly sensitive laboratory diagnosis of trichomoniasis.
Munson
Erik
E
Wheaton Franciscan Laboratory, Wauwatosa, WI 53226, USA. erik.munson@wfhc.org
Napierala
Maureen
M
Basile
Janice
J
Miller
Cheryl
C
Burtch
Jason
J
Hryciuk
Jeanne E
JE
Schell
Ronald F
RF
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014247:Trichomonas Vaginitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology*; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D014621:Vagina / Q000469:parasitology*
D012965:Sodium Chloride