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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, May 2003, p. 1925-1928, Vol. 41, No. 5
0095-1137/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.41.5.1925-1928.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

BVBlue Test for Diagnosis of Bacterial Vaginosis

Linda Myziuk,1* Barbara Romanowski,1 and Stephen C. Johnson2

University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada,1 Gryphus Diagnostics, L.L.C., Birmingham, Alabama2

Received 22 November 2002/ Returned for modification 31 December 2002/ Accepted 13 February 2003

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a disorder of the vaginal ecosystem characterized by a shift in the vaginal flora from the normally predominant Lactobacillus to one dominated by sialidase enzyme-producing mixed flora. It is the most common cause of abnormal vaginal discharge in adult women. The BVBlue system (Gryphus Diagnostics, L.L.C.) is a chromogenic diagnostic test based on the presence of elevated sialidase enzyme in vaginal fluid samples. BVBlue was compared to the standard method for diagnosing BV (Amsel criteria and Nugent score). Fifty-seven nonmenstruating women of >=16 years of age who presented for a pelvic examination were recruited. Demographic features were collected via a self-administered questionnaire. The Amsel criteria were assessed based on three of four of the following characteristics of vaginal discharge: consistency, odor, pH, and presence of clue cells on Gram stain. BVBlue was compared to the Gram stain and Amsel criteria. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for BVBlue versus the Gram stain and Amsel criteria were 91.7, 97.8, 91.7, and 97.8% and 50.0, 100, 100, and 88.2%, respectively. A significantly greater proportion of patients with a vaginal pH of >4.5, a positive amine test, or with clue cells on vaginal Gram smear were found to have a positive BVBlue test (P < 0.001). Women previously treated for BV were 2.98 times more likely to have another episode of BV. BVBlue is a useful point-of-care diagnostic tool to provide a presumptive diagnosis of BV, especially in situations where microscopic capabilities are unavailable.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: University of Alberta, #1000, 8215-112 St., Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2C8, Canada. Phone and fax: (780) 436-4900. E-mail: lmyziuk{at}docromanowski.com.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, May 2003, p. 1925-1928, Vol. 41, No. 5
0095-1137/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.41.5.1925-1928.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

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  • Bradshaw, C. S., Morton, A. N., Garland, S. M., Horvath, L. B., Kuzevska, I., Fairley, C. K. (2005). Evaluation of a Point-of-Care Test, BVBlue, and Clinical and Laboratory Criteria for Diagnosis of Bacterial Vaginosis. J. Clin. Microbiol. 43: 1304-1308 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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