THE FEASIBILITY AND RELIABILITY OF USING A HOME SCREENING-TEST TO DETECT GINGIVAL INFLAMMATION

THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY was to evaluate the feasibility and reliabil ity of using a home screening occult blood test to detect the presence of gingival inflammation. Fifty (50) healthy male and female subjects participated in this study. Pre- and post-stimulation saliva samples were obtained and tested for occult blood. Subjects brushed for one mi nute to stimulate gingival bleeding associated with inflammation. Sali va samples were obtained and tested for occult blood using a commercia l screening kit. Following the screening test, a bleeding index (BOP) was determined and used as an indicator of gingival inflammation. Thos e with a BOP >50% were assigned to the high group. Those with a BOP of 31 to 50% were assigned to the middle group, and those with a BOP of less than or equal to 30% were assigned to the low group. Twelve subje cts in the high group, 10 subjects in the mid group, and 2 subjects in the low group tested positive for occult blood following stimulation. A chi-square analysis showed an association between the screening tes t for occult blood and the groups (P = 0.0001). The test sensitivity w as 75.9% and the specificity was 90.5%.