title: Microscopy and culture for Trichomonas vaginalis: are both required?
abstract: Many genitourinary medicine clinics have stopped routinely performing both wet preparation microscopy and cultures to diagnose Trichomonas vaginalis (TV). Our directorate stopped microscopy when screening asymptomatic women. This audit considers whether both tests continue to be warranted for symptomatic female patients. The discrepancy between microscopy and culture results leads us to recommend that both remain necessary. Sampling standardization and improved documentation are discussed.
authors.affiliation: West London Centre for Sexual Health, Chelsea & Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK. charlotte.cohen@chelwest.nhs.uk
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gilmour
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mandalia
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: McLean
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D016358:Contact Tracing; D003470:Culture Media; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014247:Trichomonas Vaginitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000635:transmission; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media