What is Trichomonas Test

Trichomonas test is done to diagnose trichomoniasis, a sexually-transmitted infection (STI) caused by an organism called Trichomonas. You may have this test as a part of a routine screening for STIs or if you have symptoms of trichomoniasis.

What kind of sample is taken?

To perform the test, your health care provider will either ask you to provide a urine sample or take a sample of discharge. The sample will be taken from the vagina or cervix in women and from the urethra in men.

How are the results reported?

Your test results will be reported as either positive or negative. It is up to you to get your test results. Ask your health care provider, or the department that is doing the test, when your results will be ready.

What do the results mean?

Negative test result

A negative result means that you do not have trichomoniasis. Follow your health care provider’s directions about any follow-up testing.

Positive test result

A positive result means that you have an active infection that needs to be treated with antibiotic medicine. All your current sexual partners must also be treated. If they are not, you will likely get reinfected.

If your test result is positive, your health care provider will start you on medicine and may advise you:

• Not to have sex until your infection has cleared up.
• To use a latex condom properly every time you have sex.
• To limit the number of sexual partners you have. The more partners you have, the greater your risk of contracting trichomoniasis or another STI.
• To tell all sexual partners about your infection so that they can also get tested and treated. This will prevent reinfection.

Talk with your health care provider to discuss your results, treatment options, and if necessary, the need for more tests. Talk with your health care provider if you have any questions about your results.