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The Examination of Peroxidase-Positive Leukocytes in Semen
Published on: January 19, 2024
Vaginal swab specimen processing methods influence performance of rapid semen detection tests: a cautionary tale
Marcia M Hobbs1, Markus J Steiner, Kimberly D Rich
1University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. mmhobbs@med.unc.edu
Contraception
|August 14, 2010
Summary
Two rapid tests for semen detection in vaginal swabs were evaluated. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test showed higher accuracy (91%) than the semenogelin (Sg) test (74%), but optimal methods for Sg testing require further development.
Area of Science:
- Forensic science
- Biomarker detection
- Clinical diagnostics
Background:
- Vaginal fluid analysis for semen exposure is crucial.
- Quantitative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests are accurate but costly.
- Rapid immunochromatographic strip tests offer a potential alternative.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate two rapid immunochromatographic strip tests for identifying semen in vaginal swabs.
- To compare the performance of a PSA detection test and a semenogelin (Sg) detection test.
- To assess the compatibility of vaginal swab elution methods with different tests.
Main Methods:
- 581 vaginal swabs from 492 women were tested.
- Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) measured using quantitative IMx assay.
- ABAcard p30 (PSA) and RSID-Semen (Sg) rapid tests were employed.
Main Results:
- Saline elution was compatible with ABAcard PSA testing but not RSID-Semen Sg testing.
- The rapid PSA test detected 91% of semen-containing specimens.
- The rapid Sg test detected 74% of semen-containing specimens.
Conclusions:
- The rapid PSA test demonstrated higher sensitivity for semen detection.
- Current methods for Sg detection using RSID-Semen require optimization.
- Specimen preparation protocols need to be adapted for different semen biomarker tests.
