Pap Smears in the Diagnosis of Bacterial Vaginosis.
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Date
2013-11
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Abstract
Pap smears are routinely used in cervical cancer
screening. The purpose of our study was to determine
whether the Pap smear is of diagnostic value for the
detection of bacterial vaginosis using vaginal gram stain as
the diagnostic standard.
We studied 636 non-pregnant, married women attending
the Gynecology OPD of Rama Medical College, Ghaziabad,
for routine genital examination between Sep 2011 and Sep
2012. Two vaginal smears were prepared, one of which
was stained by the pap method and the second by the
Gram’s method. Using Gram stain diagnosis of bacterial
vaginosis as the gold standard, pap smear had a sensitivity
of 61.0% and a specificity of 97.6%, PPV of 85.7% and
NPV of 91.6%in the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis. Hence,
although pap smear is only moderately sensitive for
screening of bacterial vaginosis, because of its high
specificity, it is of diagnostic value when it is positive.
Description
Keywords
bacterial vaginosis, gram stain, pap smear
Citation
Raina A, Rawat A, Nasreen K, Talib V H, Tayal U. Pap Smears in the Diagnosis of Bacterial Vaginosis. Indian Medical Gazette. 2013 Nov ; 147 (11): 417-419.