EFFECT OF GINGIVAL FLUID COLLECTION ON SUBGINGIVAL PLAQUE SAMPLING

The purpose of this study was to determine whether gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) sampling by paper strip removes sufficient bacteria to af fect subsequent subgingival plaque sampling using a curette. In 25 sub jects, one healthy, gingivitis and periodontitis site was sampled for GCF using a strip followed by subgingival plaque sampling with a curet te. Bacterial assays indicated that GCF strips removed significant num bers of bacteria when placed intracrevicularly for 5 s. A greater prop ortion of total bacteria was removed with strip sampling at healthy ra ther than gingivitis or periodontitis sites. Qualitative assessment of presence or absence of spirochaetes and dark-pigmented species indica ted potential for significant interference of curette sampling by the strip at gingivitis and healthy sites. We concluded that paper strip G CF sampling may significantly affect curette sampling at the same site s. The magnitude of this impact depended on the clinical classificatio n of specific sites and the assay performed.