Home kit
Thrush and BV Check
A vaginal-symptom panel combining a culture swab for Candida with PCR for Gardnerella vaginalis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Trichomonas vaginalis and Ureaplasma, from two self-collected swabs.
- Doctor-reviewed results
- Laboratory analysis
- 3 to 5 working days from lab receipt
- No fasting required
What’s included
5 infections tested for
Candida species
Candida is a group of yeasts that can cause genital thrush in women. They normally live in the female genital tract without causing harm, but overgrowth can lead to infection. Candida can be detected by microscopy or culture, and Candida albicans causes most cases.
Gardnerella vaginalis
Gardnerella vaginalis is one of the bacteria that overgrow in bacterial vaginosis (BV), an imbalance of vaginal bacteria in which the normal lactobacilli are lost and the vagina becomes less acidic. BV is not usually classed as a sexually transmitted infection.
Mycoplasma genitalium
A bacterium that, along with chlamydia, is one of the two organisms most often found when a man has urethritis (inflammation of the urethra) not caused by gonorrhoea. It has also been linked to urethritis that persists or keeps coming back.
Trichomonas vaginalis
The organism (a protozoan) that causes trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted infection. It can cause discharge, itching or pain when passing urine, but many people have no symptoms at all.
Ureaplasma urealyticum/parvum
Ureaplasma urealyticum and parvum, bacteria that can be linked to urinary and genital symptoms in some people. They are also carried harmlessly by many, so a result is read alongside your symptoms.
Overview
Discharge, odour, itching or irritation that keeps coming back can have more than one cause. This panel uses two self-taken swabs: a culture for Candida (the yeast behind thrush) and PCR tests for trichomonas, Mycoplasma genitalium, Gardnerella and Ureaplasma. Some of these live harmlessly in many women, so a doctor reads the results together with your symptoms.
For someone with persistent or recurrent vaginal discharge, odour, itching or irritation who wants several possible causes checked at once. Some of the organisms tested live harmlessly in many women, so results should be interpreted by a clinician alongside symptoms.
Who this is for and who it isn’t
Who it’s for
- Women aged 18 and over
- Women with discharge, odour or itching that keeps coming back
- Anyone whose thrush treatment did not help
Who it isn’t for
- It does not test for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV, syphilis or herpes. If a new partner is part of the picture, a chlamydia and gonorrhoea test alongside it makes sense. Ureaplasma is found in many healthy women and is not always treated.
- Anyone with a new, severe or worsening symptom: contact your GP or call NHS 111. A test you buy today is not a substitute for being examined.
Common reasons people choose this test
- Discharge, odour or itching that keeps coming back
- Thrush treatment that did not help
- Soreness or irritation with no clear cause
- Wanting more information before further treatment
These are reasons people choose to test, not signs that something is wrong. A result is one part of a picture your doctor puts together with your history and an examination.
What your result looks like
Every result is shown with the unit and the reference range exactly as the laboratory reported it, with the doctor’s note underneath.
- Candida speciesDetected
- Result
- Candida albicans isolated
- Range
- No growth
- Gardnerella vaginalisNegative
- Result
- Not detected
- Range
- Not detected
- Mycoplasma genitaliumNegative
- Result
- Not detected
- Range
- Not detected
| Marker | Result | Units | Range | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candida species | Candida albicans isolated | n/a | No growth | Detected |
| Gardnerella vaginalis | Not detected | n/a | Not detected | Negative |
| Mycoplasma genitalium | Not detected | n/a | Not detected | Negative |
Doctor’s note (example)
Candida has been isolated and the species identified, which matters if it keeps returning. This species usually responds to standard antifungal treatment, which a pharmacist or GP can advise on.
…and 2 more markers. Values above are examples. Your report shows your own results with the laboratory’s units and reference range for your age and sex, reviewed, signed and released by a GMC-registered doctor.
How it works
- Your kit arrivesPosted to your door, with instructions and what you need to send your sample back.
- You take your sampleA swab you take yourself at home, using the kit we post you
- The laboratory analyses itYour sample is processed for the measurements included in this test. Lab processing typically takes 3 to 5 working days from receipt of your sample.
- A doctor reviews and releases itA GMC-registered doctor reads every result and signs the report before it reaches you.
- Sample
- Home swab kit
- Preparation
- Read instructions below
- Who it's for
- Women · ages 18+
How to prepare
This is not a window-period test for thrush, Gardnerella or Ureaplasma. Those results describe the balance of your vaginal flora at the time of the test, not a timed exposure. Trichomonas symptoms, if they appear at all, usually start 5 to 28 days after infection, and many people never get any. The reliable testing window for Mycoplasma genitalium is not established. Ask a sexual health clinician when to test and whether a repeat is needed. Post your sample the same day you take it, and avoid posting just before a weekend or a bank holiday.
What we can and can’t tell you
The reference range beside each result is the laboratory’s own. A result in range is not a clean bill of health and a result outside it is not a diagnosis. Most ranges cover about 95% of healthy people, so about 1 in 20 healthy people fall just outside any one range. No test result replaces an examination or your own doctor’s judgement, and none of these panels is a cancer screening programme.
Read the full note
Infection tests are reported as detected or not detected, not against a normal range. A not-detected result applies only to the infections tested, the site the sample came from and the time it was taken: an infection caught too recently to show up can be missed, so a test taken too soon after an exposure may need repeating. Some organisms in this panel, such as Gardnerella and Ureaplasma, live harmlessly in many people, so those results are read alongside your symptoms.
Trichomonas is different: if it is detected, it usually needs antibiotic treatment even if you feel well. If you have symptoms that are new, severe or getting worse, contact your GP, an NHS sexual health clinic or NHS 111 rather than waiting for a result.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Candida cultured rather than PCR tested?
A culture can show which Candida species is present, which matters for recurrent thrush because some species respond less well to standard treatment.
What if everything is negative?
It makes the infections tested less likely, and a doctor may then look at other causes, such as skin conditions or hormonal changes. If symptoms continue, see your GP or a sexual health clinic for an examination.
How long do results take?
The laboratory typically takes 3 to 5 working days from receiving your sample. This does not include kit delivery, sample collection or return postage. A doctor reviews your results before they are released.
Can I choose a home kit or a clinic?
This test uses a swab you take yourself at home, not a blood sample. The kit arrives by post with step-by-step instructions and what you need to send it back.
Is a doctor involved?
Yes. Every result is reviewed by a GMC-registered doctor who signs it off and explains what it means and what to do next.
Is it confidential?
Your results are available through your secure patient portal. Our privacy policy explains how your information is handled and when it may be shared to provide your care.
What happens to my sample and results?
Your sample is tested at a UKAS-accredited laboratory (ISO 15189). A GMC-registered doctor then reads every result and signs the report before it is released to your secure portal, so nothing reaches you unreviewed. For each infection tested, the report says whether it was detected or not detected, with the doctor's note on what that means for you. Some of the organisms tested for, such as Gardnerella and Ureaplasma, live harmlessly in many people, so finding one does not always mean you need treatment. If treatment would help, the report explains how to get it, usually through your GP or an NHS sexual health clinic, and whether a partner needs to be involved. If a result needs urgent attention, the reviewing doctor is alerted straight away and we contact you by phone the same working day rather than leaving it in the portal for you to find.
People also check
See all sexual health tests
7-in-1 STI TestA PCR test that looks for seven sexually transmitted or genital infections from a single sample: first-catch urine or a self-taken vaginal swab.£282.99Includes postageView test
Cervical Swab CultureA bacterial culture of a cervical swab: the sample is grown on media chosen for that site and any significant organisms found are identified and reported.£133.00Includes clinic appointmentView test
Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea Test (rectal)A PCR test for chlamydia and gonorrhoea from a rectal swab.£54.99Includes postageView test