@article {Pillay126, author = {A Pillay and F Radebe and G Fehler and Y Htun and R C Ballard}, title = {Comparison of a TaqMan-based real-time polymerase chain reaction with conventional tests for the detection of Trichomonas vaginalis}, volume = {83}, number = {2}, pages = {126--129}, year = {2007}, doi = {10.1136/sti.2006.022376}, publisher = {The Medical Society for the Study of Venereal Disease}, 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 {\textquotedblleft}gold standard{\textquotedblright}, 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.}, issn = {1368-4973}, URL = {https://sti.bmj.com/content/83/2/126}, eprint = {https://sti.bmj.com/content/83/2/126.full.pdf}, journal = {Sexually Transmitted Infections} }