Clinical Information

Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) is the most common curable sexually transmitted disease (STD) agent in the United States.  Infection with the protozoa in women can cause vaginitis, urethritis, and cervicitis.  Complications can include premature labor, low-birth-weight offspring, premature rupture of membranes, and post-abortion or post-hysterectomy infection.

Cervical specimens in ThinPrep Pap Test vials containing PreservCyt Solution, APTIMA vaginal swabs, APTIMA endocervical unisex swabs, and male and female urine specimens from symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals are approved for testing.  Other specimen types are not acceptable.

Improper collection of the specimen may results in invalid results.  If the lab receives a swab specimen transport tube with no swabs, two swabs, a cleaning swab, or a swab not supplied by Hologic the specimen must be rejected.

A negative test result does not preclude the presence of a TV infection because results are dependent on adequate specimen collection, absence on inhibitors, and sufficient rRNA to be detected.

If a specimen has a small number of TV organisms, uneven distribution may occur which may affect the ability to detect TV rRNA in the collected material.  If negative results from the specimen do not fit with the clinical impression, a new specimen may be necessary.

The presence of Trichomonas tenax or Pentatrichomonas hominis in a specimen may affect the ability to detect TV rRNA due to cross-reactivity in the presence of these microorganisms.