LABORATORY UPDATE:  BACTERIAL VAGINITIS

                              
Bendiner and Schlesinger, Inc. is pleased to announce a new test for the healthcare providers. Effective June 20, 2010 we will offer the BD Affirm Vaginitis DNA Probe tests for the detection and identification of Candida species, Gardnerella vaginalis and Trichomonas vaginalis in vaginal fluid specimens from patients with symptoms of Vaginitis/vaginosis. See BD collection and transport information.

Clinical Information:

Vaginitis, one of the most common problems in clinical medicine, accounts for more than 10 million office visits each year. The three (3) main categories of Vaginitis are: bacterial vaginosis (BV), yeast Vaginitis (candidiasis), and T. vaginalis (trichomoniasis).

The complications of BV can be especially significant in pregnant women, resulting in increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcome including pre-term labor and birth. In addition, recent data suggest BV-associated bacteria in the endometrium may be etiologic agents of endometritis and pelvic inflammatory disease, independent of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis infection. BV is also a risk factor for the development of post-hysterectomy cuff cellulitis.

Traditional methods for the identification of these organisms include microscopic evaluation of Gram stained (Candida and G. vaginalis) and wet slide preparations (Trichomonas) antigen detection, and culture. The advantage of the BD Affirm Vaginitis Panel is that all three organisms can be detected from a single specimen, increased sensitivity, and detection is not subject to the one (1) hour time limitation of the wet prep method for Trichomonas.

TEST NAME   TEST NUMBER    CPT CODE  
TRICHOMONAS VAGINALIS   2107   87660  
CANDIDA SPECIES   2105   87480  
GARDNERELLA VAGINALIS   2106   87510