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Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

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Trichomoniasis laboratory findings

Introduction

Overview

Overview

Laboratory tests used in the diagnosis of trichomoniasis include saline microscopy, culture, and nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs).[1]

Laboratory Findings

Laboratory Findings

Microscopy

Wet-mount microscopy: has been used as the preferred diagnostic test, however it has low sensitivity (44%–68%) compared with culture. To improve detection, clinicians using wet mounts should attempt to evaluate slides immediately after specimen collection because sensitivity decreases quickly to 20% within 1 hour after collection.[2]

Trichomoniasis is diagnosed by visually observing the trichomonads via a microscope. In women, the examiner collects the specimen during a pelvic examination by inserting a speculum into the vagina and then using a cotton-tipped applicator to collect the sample. The sample is then placed onto a microscopic slide and sent to a laboratory to be analyzed. Trichomoniasis has been difficult to diagnose due to the poor sensitivity of the tests.[3][1] [4][5]

Findings on microscopy suggestive of trichomoniasis include:[6][7]

Trichomonas vaginalis Pap smear

Two trophozoites of Trichomonas vaginalis obtained from in vitro culture. Smear was stained with Giemsa.[8]

Culture

Historically, culture has been the gold standard for diagnosis of trichomoniasis. However, sensitivity is somewhat low (70-89%).[9]

Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests

Nucleic acid probe techniques, the most sensitive tests, are moderately priced and fast, but they require instrumentation and thus are not considered point-of-care. The APTIMA Trichomonas vaginalis Assay (Hologic Gen-Probe, San Diego, CA) was FDA-cleared in 2011 for use with urine, endocervical, and vaginal swabs, and endocervical specimens collected in the Hologic PreserveCyt solution (ThinPrep) from females only. Sensitivity is 95–100% and specificity is also 95–100%.[10][11][12]

References

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.cdc.gov/std/tg2015/trichomoniasis.htm Accessed on September 14, 2016
  2. ↑ “Trichomoniasis – STI Treatment Guidelines”.
  3. ↑ Andrea SB, Chapin KC (2011). “Comparison of Aptima Trichomonas vaginalis Transcription-Mediated Amplification Assay and BD Affirm VPIII for Detection of T. vaginalis in Symptomatic Women: Performance Parameters and Epidemiological Implications”. J Clin Microbiol. 49 (3): 866–9. doi:10.1128/JCM.02367-10. PMID 21248097. Lay summary.
  4. ↑ Nye, Melinda B., Jane R. Schwebke, and Barbara A. Body. “Comparison of APTIMA Trichomonas vaginalis transcription-mediated amplification to wet mount microscopy, culture, and polymerase chain reaction for diagnosis of trichomoniasis in men and women.” American journal of obstetrics and gynecology 200.2 (2009): 188-e1.
  5. ↑ Stoner, Kevin A., et al. “Survival of Trichomonas vaginalis in wet preparation and on wet mount.” Sexually transmitted infections (2013): sextrans-2012.
  6. ↑ Hobbs MM, Seña AC (2013). “Modern diagnosis of Trichomonas vaginalis infection”. Sex Transm Infect. 89 (6): 434–8. doi:10.1136/sextrans-2013-051057. PMC 3787709. PMID 23633669.
  7. ↑ Schwebke JR, Burgess D (2004). “Trichomoniasis”. Clin Microbiol Rev. 17 (4): 794–803, table of contents. doi:10.1128/CMR.17.4.794-803.2004. PMC 523559. PMID 15489349.
  8. ↑ “DPDx – Trichomoniasis”. Retrieved 2012-12-27.
  9. ↑ Trichomoniasis . Wikipedia.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichomoniasis Accessed on February 4, 2016
  10. ↑ Kissinger P (2015). “Trichomonas vaginalis: a review of epidemiologic, clinical and treatment issues”. BMC Infect Dis. 15: 307. doi:10.1186/s12879-015-1055-0. PMC 4525749. PMID 26242185.
  11. ↑ Nye, Melinda B., Jane R. Schwebke, and Barbara A. Body. “Comparison of APTIMA Trichomonas vaginalis transcription-mediated amplification to wet mount microscopy, culture, and polymerase chain reaction for diagnosis of trichomoniasis in men and women.” American journal of obstetrics and gynecology 200.2 (2009): 188-e1.
  12. ↑ Kingston, M. A., D. Bansal, and E. M. Carlin. “‘Shelf life’of Trichomonas vaginalis.” International journal of STD & AIDS 14.1 (2003): 28.

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Maliha Shakil, M.D. [2], Aysha Anwar, M.B.B.S[3]