Correlation Between the Clinical Diagnosis of Bacterial Vaginosis and the Results of a Proline Aminopeptidase Assay

Abstract

Objective: The object of this study was to develop a simple and inexpensive test for detection of bacterial vaginosis (BV) in pregnant patients and to test its accuracy in a clinic population. Methods: We developed a modified proline aminopeptidase (PAMP) assay to detect BV and compared the results of the assay with the clinical diagnosis of BV. Results: The results of the PAMP assay in 55 asymptomatic and 50 symptomatic subjects significantly correlated with a clinical diagnosis of BV. The prevalence of BV in the asymptomatic population was 42% (PAMP assay) and 38% (clinical diagnosis). In the symptomatic population, it was 50% (PAMP assay) and 54% (clinical diagnosis). The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of the PAMP assay were 86, 85, 86, 78, and 91%, respectively, in asymptomatic patients and 89, 96, 92, 96, and 88%, respectively, in symptomatic patients. Conclusions: The modified PAMP assay, which we describe, met our goals for simplicity, cost, and accuracy. We feel it could be best used as a screening test for BV in asymptomatic pregnant patients. © 1994, Wiley-Liss, Inc.