Detection of trichomoniasis in vaginal specimens by both conventional and modern molecular tools

Out of 23 symptomatic cases 21 specimens were positive for T. vaginalis by one or more methods. 21 were positive by PCR (91.3%) and 17 (72.9%) by culture, 14 (60.8%) by Acridine orange (AO) stain and 13 (56.5%) by wet mount microscopy. The PCR detected all the positive cases and no PCR negative cases proved to be positive by any other technique. So, it is the test of choice for diagnosis of trichomoniasis. The modified Diamond's media proved to be highly sensitive (80.95%) and the results of the culture were significantly associated with those of PCR. The results of both wet mount and AO stain were insignificantly associated. The wet mount although widely used, easy, rapid and inexpensive yet, it has low sensitivity. So, negative cases should be repeated by either culture or PCR.