Clinical and Interpretive

This assay is a nucleic acid based test used to identify Gardnerella vaginalis, Candida species, Candida glabrata and Trichomonas vaginalis.

This test is used in the differential diagnosis of vaginitis in symptomatic patients and can help guide selection of appropriate therapy. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common finding with vaginal symptoms, affecting nearly half of symptomatic patients. BV is characterized by replacement of normal Lactobacillus flora with anaerobic and other bacteria such as Gardnerella vaginalis. Vaginal candidiasis is present in up to 40% of symptomatic women. About 75% of women develop a yeast infection at some point during their lives. Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) is a protozoan parasite that commonly infects the genital tract. It is now considered to be the most common curable sexually transmitted disease (STD) agent, with an estimated 3.7 million infected individuals in the United States.