Home kit
Trichomonas Test
A PCR test for Trichomonas vaginalis, a parasitic sexually transmitted infection, from first-catch urine or a self-taken vaginal swab.
- Doctor-reviewed results
- Laboratory analysis
- 1 to 2 working days from lab receipt
- No fasting required
What’s included
1 infection tested for
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.
Overview
Trichomonas is a common, treatable STI that is not part of a standard chlamydia and gonorrhoea screen. In women it can cause frothy, unpleasant-smelling discharge, itching and soreness that is easily mistaken for thrush, and many people have no symptoms at all. This PCR test looks for it specifically. For men and anyone with a penis the recommended sample is first-catch urine, and for women and anyone with a vagina it is a vaginal swab.
For someone with discharge, odour or irritation where trichomonas is a possible cause, or where a standard chlamydia and gonorrhoea screen came back clear but symptoms continue. Many people carry it without symptoms.
Who this is for and who it isn’t
Who it’s for
- Adults aged 18 and over
- Anyone with discharge or irritation that thrush treatment did not fix
- People whose partner has been diagnosed with trichomonas
Who it isn’t for
- It looks for trichomonas only. If you have not yet tested for chlamydia and gonorrhoea, they need their own test. It does not test for bacterial vaginosis or thrush.
- 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 with an unpleasant smell
- Itching or soreness that thrush treatment did not fix
- A clear chlamydia and gonorrhoea test but ongoing symptoms
- A partner diagnosed with trichomonas
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.
- Trichomonas vaginalisDetected
- Result
- Detected
- Range
- Not detected
| Marker | Result | Units | Range | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trichomonas vaginalis | Detected | n/a | Not detected | Detected |
Doctor’s note (example)
Trichomonas has been detected. It is treatable with a short course of antibiotics from a sexual health clinic or GP; partners would usually be treated at the same time so it does not pass back.
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 sampleFirst-catch urine or a self-taken vaginal swab, collected 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 1 to 2 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 urine or swab kit
- Preparation
- Read instructions below
- Who it's for
- Any sex · ages 18+
How to prepare
Trichomonas symptoms, if they appear at all, usually start 5 to 28 days after infection, and many people never get any. PCR picks up trichomonas more reliably than looking at the sample under a microscope.
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. Trichomonas often causes no symptoms, so 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
How is trichomonas treated?
A short course of antibiotics, usually metronidazole. Partners need treating at the same time or it passes back.
Can men carry it without knowing?
Yes. Many people have no symptoms, which is why a partner's diagnosis is a good reason to test.
How long do results take?
The laboratory typically takes 1 to 2 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 first-catch urine or a self-taken vaginal swab, 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. If something is detected, the report explains how to get treatment, usually through your GP or an NHS sexual health clinic, whether recent partners need testing, and whether a repeat test is advised after treatment. 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.
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