Objectives
Prenatal and STI screens include testing for Chlamydia and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, but Trichomonas test requests are not included routinely. Physicians may perform wet mounts in their offices, but microscopy sensitivity is ∼51-65%. To determine prevalence and assess screening practices, Trichomonas PCR testing was performed on 191 vaginal/endocervical and 206 male and female urine specimens submitted for Xpert Chlamydia and N. gonorrhoeae testing. Only 53 of these had a Trichomonas screen ordered.
Methods
Diagnosis of Trichomonas by microscopy is based on organism motility. Due to rapid deterioration outside the body, a one hour time limit from collection to result is recommended. The Xpert TV assay uses PCR to detect Trichomonas DNA using either first-catch urine or vaginal/endocervical swabs. PCR tests do not require a viable organism and will not have strict time limits. No TV PCR results were reported to ordering physicians, and use for male urines is currently off-label.
Methods
Diagnosis of Trichomonas by microscopy is based on organism motility. Due to rapid deterioration outside the body, a one hour time limit from collection to result is recommended. The Xpert TV assay uses PCR to detect Trichomonas DNA using either first-catch urine or vaginal/endocervical swabs. PCR tests do not require a viable organism and will not have strict time limits. No TV PCR results were reported to ordering physicians, and use for male urines is currently off-label.
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