Table 3 Background information concerning the use of the BacLight® assay (BLA) for assessment of (dental) biofilm vitality

Studies using the BLA (n = 30)

[5–7, 9, 16–20, 22, 23, 41, 71, 73],[82]* [83, 85–98]

(a) Were plaque-like biofilms evaluated?

No: [5, 16–18, 22, 23, 41, 82, 83, 86],[87, 93, 96–98]

Yes: [6, 7, 9, 19, 20, 71, 73, 85],[88–92, 94, 95]

(b) Validation

No: [5, 7, 9, 16–18, 20, 22, 23, 41],[71, 73, 82, 85–91, 94–98]

Yes: [6, 19?, 83, 92, 93?]

(c) Dilution factor

Not stated: [16, 18, 23, 73, 86, 94, 95, 98]

1:1 [6, 7, 9, 17, 20, 22, 41, 71],[85, 87–92, 96, 97]

2:1 [93]

4:1 [5]

6:4 [19]

1:6 [83]

(d) Incubation procedure

Not stated: [16, 18, 71, 86, 95, 96]

10 min, RT [6, 7, 20]

15 min, RT [5, 9, 17, 19, 22, 23, 41, 73],[85, 87–91, 97, 98]

20 min, RT [83, 92]

>20 min, 2°C [93]

30 min [94]

(e) Comparison

No: [16–18, 20, 22, 71, 82, 83, 85, 88],[90, 91, 94, 95]

Yes: [5–7, 9, 19, 23, 41, 73, 86, 87],[89, 92, 93, 96–98]

(f) … with inappropriate methods

[6, 7, 9, 19, 23, 41, 73, 86],[87, 89, 92, 93, 96–98]

(g) … with appropriate methods

[5]*

(h) Did the BLA results fit to the other parameters?

No: [7, 19, 86, 89, 92, 93] (DAPI), [96, 97]

Yes: [5, 23, 41, 93] (FDA), [98]

(i) Did the BLA results meet the expectations of the user(s)?

No: [23, 83, 86]

Yes: [5, 7, 16, 18–20, 22, 41, 71, 82],[85, 87–98]