Relationship between clinical probing depth and reactivity to the BANA test of samples of subgingival microbiota from patients with periodontitis

The enzymatic test BANA (N-benzoyl-DL-arginine-naphthylamide) was used to analyze the subgingival microbiota of 28 patients aged 26 to 55 years old with a diagnosis of adult periodontitis. Samples were collected with periodontal curettes at 513 sites, with a mean number of sites of 18.3 +/- 8.8 per patient. The results of the BANA test were correlated with the initial measurements of pocket depth. The data showed a statistically significant correlation between increasing probing depth and a positive BANA test. BANA test detected the presence of BANA-positive microorganisms at sites of < 3 mm probing depth in a statistically significant proportion. Negative (BANA 1) and weakly positive (BANA 2) BANA tests were inversely correlated with increasing pocket depth, and positive (BANA 3) BANA tests were directly correlated with increasing pocket depth. On the basis of the presents results, we consider the BANA test to be of practical applicability in periodontal clinical practice and to represent an important auxiliary diagnostic tool for patients with adult periodontitis.