Trichomonasvaginalis:
Why TrichomonasvaginalisTest ?
CLINICAL INFORMATION
Trichomonasvaginalis (TV) is also called ‘Trich’- a motile parasitic protozoan. It is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted disease (STD) or infection (intra-vaginal or intra-urethral inoculation) in the world. It is an important source of reproductive morbidity. Trichomonasvaginalis is a single-celled flagellated protozoan parasite. These parasites pass from an infected person to an uninfected person during sex. (i.e Its mode of transmission is predominantly through copulation). Clinical manifestation of trichomoniasis presents with signs and symptoms of urinary frequency, itching, burning, redness or soreness of the genitals, discomfort with urination, variable abnormal vaginal discharge (increased volume or scanty discharge) with fishy (foul-smelling purulent discharge) odour, which can be clear, white, yellowish or greenish in colour and in males can cause itching or irritation inside the penis, white discharge (due to persistent urethritis), pain while urination or copulation etc. Women typically get infected in their vulva, vagina, cervix, urethra etc, while the male urethra can get infected and may ascend to the prostate and cause infections. Rarely other manifestations may also include mouth, anus, hands etc. In both genders, the untreated chronic trichomoniasis can cause complications, since it can lead to local spread to the nearby organs (s), such as prostate (prostatitis) or urinary bladder infection (Cystitis) in males, and in females, it affects the reproductive organ and can cause lower abdominal discomfort including vulval ulceration and it can also ascend up to cause pelvic inflammatory disease (in women) etc and can cause infertility. Other complications include co-infection, post-operative infections, cervical neoplasia etc. High-risk factors include older or elderly women, frequent UTIs, STDs etc. Pregnant women with trichomoniasis might be at a higher risk of delivering premature babies, low birth weight babies, pre-term labour, and a high chance of infecting the fetus. Diagnostic tests for trichomoniasis include ELISA test (for detection of antigen or antibodies) on vaginal swabs or urethral swabs, genital discharge and/or culture test (observe under a microscope to spot the parasite – a motile organism), vaginal swabs for Nucleic acid amplification test (NAATs). Additional tests include physical examination (pelvic examination for vulvitis and/or vaginitis using speculum) by a physician, and tests for other STDs like chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, HPV, HSV etc and/or urinary tract infection.
General Instructions:
Sample Requirement: Specimen - Blood sample collected from the vein or vaginal smear (As per the suggestions of the Doctor). Test Preparation: None.
NOTE - Sample for specimen collections may vary based on the patient’s condition/cases according to the patient’s presenting complaints/signs or symptoms:
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENT (Special or Rare Cases) - As instructed and guided by Physician / Clinician / Pathologist / as per Laboratory’s requirements, according to procedures and protocols.
This Multi-Specialty Clinical Referral Laboratory RT DIAGNOSTICS provides precise and accurate tests with an extensive range of testing services to the medical centres to help in the diagnosis and identification of pathology in the test specimens for infectious diseases and also to evaluate the function of organ systems of the patient. It prevents further complications and helps to stabilize and restore health to near normalcy at the earliest without delay.
