Gardnerella vaginalis: isolation and identification.

A total of 26 isolates of Gardnerella vaginalis were obtained from 248 patients attending the out patient department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at A.I.I.M.S hospital, over a period of one year. The vaginal discharge of these patients was cultured on five different media in order to evaluate the best medium for the growth of G. vaginalis. Media containing human blood were found to be the most suitable, Human-Blood-Bilayer medium with Tween-80 being the best for the growth of the organism. A total of 12 biochemical tests were performed for the identification of each isolate. A short and rapid scheme for identification of the organism in a routine laboratory has been evolved.