The implementation of an external quality assurance method for point- of- care tests for HIV and syphilis in Tanzania.

Background: External quality assurance (EQA) programmes, which are routinely used in laboratories, have not been widely implemented for point-of- care tests (POCTs). A study was performed in ten health centres in Tanzania, to implement the use of dried blood spots (DBS) as an EQA method for HIV and syphilis (POCTs).

Method: DBS samples were collected for retesting at a reference laboratory and the results compared to the POCT results obtained at the clinic.

PCR-based identification of eight Lactobacillus species and 18 hr-HPV genotypes in fixed cervical samples of South African women at risk of HIV and BV.

Vaginal lactobacilli assessed by PCR-based microarray and PCR-based genotyping of HPV in South African women at risk for HIV and BV. Vaginal lactobacilli can be defined by microarray techniques in fixed cervical samples of South African women. Cervical brush samples suspended in the coagulant fixative BoonFix of one hundred women attending a health centre for HIV testing in South Africa were available for this study.

Microarray-based identification of clinically relevant vaginal bacteria in relation to bacterial vaginosis.

Objective: The objective was to examine the use of a tailor-made DNA microarray containing probes representing the vaginal microbiota to examine bacterial vaginosis.

Study Design: One hundred one women attending a health center for HIV testing in South Africa were enrolled. Stained, liquid-based cytology slides were scored for bacterial vaginosis.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis: diagnostic and therapeutic approaches used by Dutch general practitioners.

Objective: To establish how general practitioners (GPs) in the Netherlands diagnose and treat vaginal candidiasis.

Methods: Questionnaires were sent to 1160 Dutch GPs. The GPs were asked to make an inventory of the annual number of consultations for vulvovaginal candidiasis.

Gardnerella vaginalis and Lactobacillus sp in liquid-based cervical samples in healthy and disturbed vaginal flora using cultivation-independent methods.

Our objective was to determine the morphotype of the adherent bacteria in liquid-based cytology (LBC) in smears with healthy and disturbed vaginal flora. And to use PCR technology on the same fixed cell sample to establish DNA patterns of the 16S RNA genes of the bacteria in the sample. Thirty samples were randomly selected from a large group of cervical cell samples suspended in a commercial coagulant fixative "(BoonFix).

Alternating high-risk human papillomavirus infection: consequences of progression to cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

Background: Nearly every Dutch woman will be exposed to genital human papillomavirus (HPV) at least once during her lifetime, and most likely several times. In the current study, the authors investigated the prevalence of high-risk-HPV (HR-HPV) infection and the likelihood of progression to cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN).

Methods: In this study, the course of HR-HPV infection in 703 women was observed.

Dutch solutions for liquid-based cytology: analysis of unsatisfactory slides and HPV testing of equivocal cytology.

The liquid-based techniques to obtain microscopy slides for cervical screening have replaced conventional smears almost completely in the USA, but not in all European countries. The decision making process to use liquid-based cytology (LBC) for nationwide screening programs depends on the health system. In a pilot study of over 7,000 screenees, we analyzed the unsatisfactory LBC slides and tested the equivocal cytologies for HPV by using the LiPA test.

Human papillomavirus testing as a cytology gold standard: comparing Surinam with the Netherlands.

Polymerase chain reaction to detect high-risk human papillomavirus has been suggested as a gold standard for cytology. The Netherlands and Surinam were prospectively compared in regard to the proportions of Negative, Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance, and Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion smears that had detectable high-risk human papillomavirus. For the Netherlands, 14 600 negative, 270 Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance and 120 Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion smears were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction.