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Comparison of a TaqMan-based real-time polymerase chain reaction with conventional tests for the detection of Trichomonas vaginalis.
Sex Transm Inf 2007;83:126-129.
Pillay A, Radebe F, Fehler G, Htun Y, and Ballard
RC.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To compare a TaqMan-based real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
with conventional PCR, culture, and wet-mount microscopy for the diagnosis
of trichomoniasis in women. METHODS: Vaginal swabs from 119 women were tested
for Trichomonas vaginalis by wet mount and culture. Paired vaginal lavage
and urine specimens were tested by conventional and real-time PCR. RESULTS:
Using an expanded "gold standard", defined as a positive culture
result using vaginal swabs and/or a positive PCR test using TVK3/7 primers,
the overall prevalence of T vaginalis in the study population was 65.5% (78/119).
The detection rate of T vaginalis was 65.5% (78/119) and 36.9% (44/119) by
conventional PCR using vaginal washings and urine specimens, respectively;
68.9% (82/119) by real-time PCR using vaginal washings and 61.3% (73/119)
by real-time PCR using urine specimens. The sensitivities of conventional
PCR using vaginal washings and urine and real-time PCR using vaginal washings
and urine, compared with the gold standard were 100%, 56.4%, 100% and 76.7%,
and the specificities of these tests were 100%, 97.6%, 82.9% and 97%, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: The real-time PCR test proved to be significantly more sensitive
than culture and wet-mount microscopy, although its specificity was slightly
lower than these tests. In addition, it was more sensitive, rapid and less
time consuming than conventional PCR for the detection of T vaginalis.