title: Comparison of dacron and nylon-flocked self-collected vaginal swabs and urine for the detection of Trichomonas vaginalis using analyte-specific reagents in a transcription-mediated amplification assay.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare self-collected vaginal swab (SCVS) types and first-catch urine (FCU) to diagnose Trichomonas vaginalis using analyte-specific reagents designed to be used in a transcription-mediated amplification assay.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 241 women (group A) collected a FCU and a SCVS using a dacron swab (APTIMA collection kit). A second group of 289 women (group B) collected two SCVS using one dacron swab and one nylon-flocked swab.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 75 young women (street youth) determined to be infected with T vaginalis only seven reported symptoms of vaginal discharge or irritation. Using a cutoff of 50,000 relative light units, the sensitivity and specificity was 97.2% and 97.6%, respectively for dacron SCVS compared with 41.7% and 100% for FCU in group A; 92.3% and 98.8% for dacron SCVS and 92.3% and 99.2% for flocked-nylon SCVS in group B. The assay tested 96 samples in 6 h.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dacron and nylon-flocked SCVS performed equally well and significantly better than FCU using analyte-specific reagents in the APTIMA transcription-mediated amplification assay. Either swab type could be used for self-collection.
authors.affiliation: St. Joseph's Healthcare, 50 Charlton Avenue East, Hamilton, ON L8N 4A6, Canada.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Jodi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gilchrist
authors.forename: Eder
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Portillo
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smieja
authors.forename: Ramandeep
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Toor
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chernesky
mesh_terms: D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques / Q000379:methods; D009757:Nylons; D010274:Parasitology / Q000379:methods; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D016353:Self-Examination / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D014247:Trichomonas Vaginitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014556:Urine / Q000469:parasitology*; D014621:Vagina / Q000469:parasitology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D009757:Nylons; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates