Trichomonas vaginalis PCR

Diagnostic Use

Trichomonas vaginalis is a common cause of sexually acquired infections which in women can be non-specific, but may include vaginal discharge, vaginitis, cervicitis and irritation. Between 70-85% of patients infected with T. vaginalis are asymptomatic. Infections in pregnancy may result in sequelae such as preterm labour and premature rupture of membranes. In men T. vaginalis is an important cause of urethritis.

Microscopic evaluation of wet mount preparations and Rapid immunochromatographic tests are no longer routinely performed as Nucleic acid amplification tests have are now more rapidly available to be performed and are the preferred method of TV infection due to superior sensitivity and excellent specificity.

Department

Microbiology - Virology

Delphic Registration Code

TVPC

Turnaround Time

3 days

Test Code

8300

Specimen Type

• Urine
• Swab - see Additional Information

Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

• Please refer to Additional Information below

Acceptable

• Pottle

Interferences

This is the list of lubricant gels that Do Not interfere with our assay and which can be used for speculum examinations:

Shield Gel (However, Shield Gel cannot be used for nasogastric tube insertions (NGT).
KY Jelly (is not available in single-use sachets in NZ)
Lubrigel (is not available in single-use sachets in NZ)

Lubricant gels that INTERFERE with our CT/NG/MG/TV assay and cause failures of the internal control are:
Surgi-Gel Plus: can be used for nasogastric tube insertions (NGT)
Optilube: can be used for nasogastric tube insertions (NGT)

Pre-testing Requirements

T. vaginalis will be tested only if specifically requested.
Sample collection remains the same for other molecular STI testing using the specific collection device: See Specimen collection protocol.

Additional Specimen Information

Samples: Urethral, vaginal, cervical swabs and first catch urines.
DO NOT USE SURGI-GEL or OPTILUBE when taking swabs as these interfere with the assay!
See link to Swab Guide under Additional Information section below.

Sample collection is as per STI chlamydia trachomatis / NG protocol.

Must use: Abbott Alinity m multi collect specimen collection kit (orange cap). Use the swabs provided with this collection kit. Please use the disposable transfer pipette for aliquoting urines to the collection device. Fill urine to the clear "Fill window" on the tube.

Swabs in Amies transport media are UNSUITABLE for PCR.

The collection devices are available from Customer services Canterbury Health Laboratories LabInfo@cdhb.health.nz or 0800 THE LAB (843 522).

Aliquot Instructions

Transport to Lab

Ambient (8 - 24 degrees Celsius)

Additional Referral/Aliquot Information

Urine aliquots - Fill to clear window on tube.

Interpretation

“T. vaginalis DNA detected” indicates the presence of T. vaginalis in the sample.

“T. vaginalis DNA not detected indicates that T. vaginalis was not present in the sample or at levels lower than the assays detection level.

Presence of PCR inhibitors indicates an invalid PCR result and a repeat sample may be required.

Reference Intervals

Detected or Not Detected

Test Method

Real-time PCR for T. vaginalis RNA using Automated Alinity m platform.

Contact Canterbury Health Laboratories on +64 3 364 0484 or email LabInfo@cdhb.health.nz

Uncertainty of Measurement:
Analytical sensitivity ( manufacturers)
Urogenital samples TV: 0.02 Trophozoite (TV)/assay.

Do not submit swabs in bacterial transport media for PCR.

Optimal performance of this test requires appropriate and correct collection and handling.

Performance of the assay for the detection of TV and MG has not been established for oropharyngeal or rectal swab specimens.

Resources

• Swab Guide (232 KB)

Contact Information

Enquiry Form