Background Analysis of samplings from periodontal pockets is important in diagnosis and therapy control of periodontitis. In this study, three different sampling techniques were compared to determine if one method can yield samples suitable for reproducible and simultaneous determination of bacterial load, cytokines, neutrophil elastase, and Arg-specific gingipains. R-gingipains are an important virulence factor of Porphyromonas gingivalis, the exact concentration of which in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) has not yet been quantified. Methods GCF was sampled from four sites per patient (each two sites one method) in 36 chronic periodontitis patients. One week later, the procedure was repeated with alternative methods. The variables that had been determined were: loads of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis, levels of interleukin-6 and interleukin-8, activity of neutrophil elastase and level of R-gingipains. Results The detected cytokine levels were higher using paper strips compared to paper points. Bacteria were found in similar loads from the paper strips and paper points. R-gingipains were detectable in high quantities only by washing of the periodontal pocket. The level of R-gingipains correlated with the load of P. gingivalis. Conclusion The use of paper strips is suitable for simultaneous determination of microbial and immunological parameters. Obtaining GCF by washing can be useful for special purposes. Gingipain concentration in periodontal pockets was directly determined to be up to 1.5 μM. This value indicates that most of so far identified substrates of these proteases by in vitro assays can be easily degraded in P. gingivalis infected sites.

Microbiological diagnostics for P. gingivalis before and 3 months after SRP may have a predictive value on response to periodontal therapy. The combination with MMP-8 in oral lavage or preferably calprotectin in GCF might give additional information.