Vaginitis and vaginosis, including Bacterial Vaginosis (BV), Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (VVC), and Trichomoniasis (TV), are extremely common conditions, consuming many healthcare resources and having significant potential adverse consequences for women. Traditional diagnosis has relied on clinical signs and symptoms and a number of conventional diagnostic tests. The presentation of vaginitis and vaginosis is not always typical, and the usual diagnostic tests are not always straight forward, reproducible, or sensitive. Newer molecular techniques may be more sensitive and revealing about the conditions. They have also helped to re-shape our understanding about BV, VVC, and TV, but they are more complex and expensive. This presentation will discuss the spectrum of conventional and molecular tests currently available for BV, VVC, and TV and compare tests performance and utility in light of clinical indications.

Learner Objectives:

Attendee will be able to:

1. Describe the pertinent clinical characteristics of BV, VVC, and TV.

2. List the classic or conventional diagnostic criteria for BV, VVC, TV.

3. Identify the most common conventional tests for BV, VVC, TV.

4. List current and upcoming molecular tests for identifying BV, VVC, and TV.

5. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of conventional versus molecular tests for BV, VVC, and TV.

6.Distinguish when conventional tests or molecular tests might be indicated for BV, VVC, and TV.