Detection of Gardnerella vaginalis in vaginal specimens by direct immunofluorescence. |
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| Authors: | W Hansen B Vray K Miller F Crokaert E Yourassowsky |
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| Affiliation: | Department of Microbiology, Brugmann University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium. |
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| Abstract: | The preparation of a fluorescein-labeled Gardnerella vaginalis polyclonal antibody is described, and its usefulness is assessed for the detection of this microorganism in vaginal samples obtained from 263 women attending the gynecological department of a general hospital, 66 of whom harbored an intrauterine device. The direct immunofluorescence technique was positive for G. vaginalis in 21% of the specimens, whereas only 12.5% of the total bacteriological cultures were positive. The frequency was higher in patients harboring intrauterine devices since 34.8% exhibited positive immunofluorescence and 30.3% exhibited positive cultures. |
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