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Trichomoniasis Test: How It's Done and Where to Get One

By Richard D. Porter, Patient Advocate Updated

Quick answer

A trichomoniasis test looks for the trich parasite in a sample from the genital area or in urine. The CDC says NAATs (nucleic acid amplification tests) are highly sensitive and find more infections than a microscope exam of a swab in women. The CDC's screening advice covers only specific groups, so ask for trich by name. About 70% of people with trich have no signs or symptoms, so a test is how most people find out.

The test you need

Trichomoniasis: NAATRetest if negative before day 49

Too earlyMay detect; retest if negativeReliable

Counted from your most recent exposure. CDC gives no single window for chlamydia, gonorrhea, trich or syphilis; the cautious date uses the NHS "up to 7 weeks". Work out your own dates

Test
Trichomoniasis NAAT (nucleic acid amplification test)
Sample
Vaginal or cervical swab, or urine, for people with a vagina. A swab from the urethra for people with a penis. Ask the clinic which sample they use.
When
The CDC gives no set window for trich. With no symptoms, ask a clinician when to test and whether to repeat a negative result.
Results
STDCheck says results are ready 1 to 2 days after you give the sample. Clinics vary, so ask.

Trichomoniasis, often called trich, is a common STI caused by a tiny parasite. Most people who have it don’t notice anything. The CDC says about 70% of people with trich have no signs or symptoms, and it can’t be diagnosed from symptoms alone. That is why a test, not a guess, is the way to find out.

How is a trichomoniasis test done?

There are four main kinds of test, and they are not equally good:

  • NAAT. This looks for the parasite’s genetic material. The CDC says NAATs are highly sensitive and find more infections than microscope exams in women. If you can choose, this is the one to ask for.
  • Wet mount. A clinician looks at a swab of vaginal fluid under a microscope. It is quick, but the CDC says it has low sensitivity (44% to 68%) compared with culture.
  • Rapid antigen test. This looks for parasite proteins in vaginal fluid. MedlinePlus says it works only on vaginal fluid samples, and the CDC says one common rapid test should not be used with men because of low sensitivity.
  • Culture. A sample is grown in a lab for about a week before it is read.

What sample is taken?

For people with a vagina, the CDC lists clinician-collected vaginal or cervical swabs as reliable samples, and urine is also used. The CDC notes that vaginal swab and urine results don’t always match in women. MedlinePlus says the preferred swabs are from the urethra (for people with a penis) or from the vagina or cervix. Clinics differ, so ask which sample they take.

Can people with a penis be tested for trich?

Yes. The CDC says sexually active people can get trich by having sex without a condom with a partner who has trich. Which test you are offered depends on the clinic, and the CDC says one rapid test should not be used with men. Ask for a trich test by name and ask which sample and test they use.

Is trich part of a routine STD check?

Usually it isn’t, so ask for it. The CDC recommends testing women who see a clinician for vaginal discharge. It says annual screening might be considered in high-prevalence settings, and recommends routine annual screening for women with HIV. It does not list routine screening for other groups. If you have had a partner with trich, or want to be thorough, say so and ask for the test.

When should I get tested?

If you have symptoms, get tested now. If you have no symptoms, the CDC does not publish a set waiting time for trich. MedlinePlus says symptoms, when they appear, usually show up within 5 to 28 days after infection, and the NHS says STIs in general can take up to 7 weeks to show on a test.

STDCheck’s own page suggests testing within 1 to 4 weeks of a suspected exposure and warns that testing too early can cause false negatives. That is the company’s guidance, not the CDC’s. If you test early and the result is negative, ask a clinician whether to repeat it.

What happens after treatment?

Trich is treated with medicine prescribed by a clinician. The CDC says sex partners should be treated at the same time, and that you should be tested again about three months after treatment. If you are pregnant, tell your clinician. The CDC says pregnant women with trich are more likely to have their babies early.

Where can I get a trich test?

  • A clinic or sexual health clinic. The CDC’s GetTested site helps you find free or low-cost, confidential testing near you.
  • A doctor or urgent care. Ask whether they test for trich by name. Not every site does, so check with your local location.
  • Online, then a lab. STDCheck lets you order trich as an individual test and visit a testing center, and it says it does not accept health insurance. Its page describes a urine test that looks for the parasite’s DNA, with results ready in 1 to 2 days. This describes what the company says about itself. It lists trich in its 13-test panel, not its 10-test panel.

Not sure which tests to ask for? Start with the test finder tool listed below.

Get care now if

  • Severe pain in your lower belly or pelvis
  • A fever along with pelvic pain or unusual discharge
  • You are pregnant and think you may have trich, so tell your prenatal clinician soon
  • Pain or swelling in the testicles

Call 911 for a medical emergency. Otherwise, an urgent care clinic, sexual health clinic or your doctor can see you.

When to test

  1. As soon as you notice symptoms, or if a partner tells you they have trichGet tested rather than waiting. The CDC says trich can't be diagnosed from symptoms alone.
  2. No symptoms, after a possible exposureThe CDC gives no single waiting time for trich. Ask a clinician when to test, and whether to repeat a negative result later. The NHS says STIs in general can take up to 7 weeks to show on a test.
  3. About 3 months after treatmentThe CDC says you should be tested again about three months after treatment, and that your sex partners should be treated at the same time.

Common questions

Is trich included in a standard STD panel?

Not always. CDC screening advice covers specific groups, so a basic check may not include it. Ask for trich by name. STDCheck, for example, lists it as a separate test and in its 13-test panel, but not in its 10-test panel.

Can a trich test come back negative when I do have it?

It can, depending on the test. The CDC says NAATs are highly sensitive, but a microscope exam of a swab (a wet mount) has low sensitivity compared with culture, at 44% to 68%. If you have symptoms or a partner with trich and your result is negative, ask a clinician about a more sensitive test.

How long do trich test results take?

It depends on where you test. STDCheck says its results are ready 1 to 2 days after your sample. A clinic or urgent care may use a different test with a different turnaround, so ask when you book.

Do I need to get tested again after treatment?

Yes, the CDC says to be tested again about three months after treatment. CDC also says your sex partners should be treated at the same time to avoid reinfection.

Next: Trichomoniasis NAAT (nucleic acid amplification test).

Vaginal or cervical swab, or urine, for people with a vagina. A swab from the urethra for people with a penis. Ask the clinic which sample they use.. The CDC gives no set window for trich. With no symptoms, ask a clinician when to test and whether to repeat a negative result.

Read next

Sources

This guide is general information written by a patient advocate using public health sources. It is not a diagnosis. Only a clinician or a lab test can tell you whether you have an infection. Read how we write and check our guides.