title: Affirm VPIII microbial identification test can be used to detect gardnerella vaginalis, Candida albicans and trichomonas vaginalis microbial infections in Korean women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare Affirm VPIII Microbial Identification Test results for Korean women to those obtained for Gardnerella vaginalis through Nugent score, Candida albicans based on vaginal culture and Trichomonas vaginalis based on wet smear diagnostic standards.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study participants included 195 women with symptomatic or asymptomatic vulvovaginitis under hospital obstetric or gynecologic care. A definite diagnosis was made based on Nugent score for Gardnerella, vaginal culture for Candida and wet prep for Trichomonas vaginalis. Affirm VPIII Microbial Identification Test results were then compared to diagnostic standard results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 195 participants, 152 were symptomatic, while 43 were asymptomatic. Final diagnosis revealed 68 (37.87%) cases of Gardnerella, 29 (14.87%) cases of Candida, one (0.51%) case of Trichomonas, and 10 (5.10%) cases of mixed infections. The detection rates achieved by each detection method (Affirm assay vs diagnostic standard) for Gardnerella and Candida were not significantly different (33.33% vs 34.8% for Gardnerella, 13.33% vs 14.87% for Candida, respectively). The sensitivity and specificity of the Affirm test for Gardnerella compared to the diagnostic standard were 75.0% and 88.98%, respectively. For Candida, the sensitivity and specificity of the Affirm test compared to the diagnostic standard were 82.76% and 98.80%, respectively. The number of Trichomonas cases was too small (1 case) to be statistically analyzed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Affirm test is a quick tool that can help physicians diagnose and treat patients with infectious vaginitis at the point of care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Byun
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yeon Joon
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Soo Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Hur
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000175:diagnosis; D015342:DNA Probes; D005260:Female; D006194:Gardnerella vaginalis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014247:Trichomonas Vaginitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014627:Vaginitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
keywords: Nugent score; affirm test; culture; infectious vaginitis; wet prep +