Journal article
Accuracy of Vaginal pH Testing Before and After Addition of Sterile Saline
Journal of lower genital tract disease, Vol.25(2), pp.181-185
04/01/2021
DOI: 10.1097/LGT.0000000000000597
PMID: 33660675
Abstract
Objective
Complaints of vaginal discharge are common, and vaginal pH is important diagnostically. Vaginal pH is measured either directly using pH paper or after wet mount analysis. This study aims to analyze whether a significant change in vaginal pH after saline addition exists. Methods
This prospective, diagnostic accuracy study included 97 persons with a vagina between the ages of 18-80 years who received care at an academic center. Two samples of vaginal discharge were collected, with pH measured by direct application to pH paper and after wet prep analysis. Outcome measurements included pH measurements and demographic variables collected from electronic medical records. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test was performed, with a p value less than .05 considered significant. It was hypothesized that addition of saline to vaginal discharge increases pH artificially. Results
Primary outcome included pH difference between both samples. Sixty four (66%) of the subjects had a pH difference of 0.50 and 3 (3%) had a difference of 1.0. Twenty nine (30%) of the subjects had no difference. One subject (1%) had a decrease of 0.50 in pH after saline. Reproductive age and nonuse of vaginal medications were significantly associated with a pH difference of 0.50 or higher after saline addition. Of the demographic variables, reproductive age and nonuse of vaginal medications within the past week or the day of collection were associated with a significant pH difference after saline addition (79%, p = .025; 79%, p = .001; 76%, p = .002, respectively). Conclusions
It may be reasonable to subtract 0.50 from final pH reading in patients of reproductive age and in those who have not used vaginal medications recently.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Accuracy of Vaginal pH Testing Before and After Addition of Sterile Saline
- Creators
- Sarah Bakir - Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of MedicineDiane Elas - University of Iowa Hospitals and ClinicsColleen K. Stockdale - University of IowaM. Bridget Zimmerman - University of IowaAbbey Hardy-Fairbanks - University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of lower genital tract disease, Vol.25(2), pp.181-185
- Publisher
- Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
- DOI
- 10.1097/LGT.0000000000000597
- PMID
- 33660675
- ISSN
- 1089-2591
- eISSN
- 1526-0976
- Number of pages
- 5
- Grant note
- University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine Summer Research Fellowship grant through the Iowa Medical Student Research Program
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 04/01/2021
- Academic Unit
- Biostatistics; Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Record Identifier
- 9984318225302771
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