Which test is used to diagnose bacterial vaginosis?

Which test is used to diagnose bacterial vaginosis?

• A. Whiff test
• B. Saline wet smear test
• C. Normal saline smear test
• D. Potassium hydroxide test

Answer: (A)

Diagnosing bacterial vaginosis hinges on detecting the characteristic changes in vaginal flora and the resulting odor when a sample is exposed to a basic reagent. The Whiff test specifically looks for a fishy odor that appears after adding potassium hydroxide to vaginal discharge. This odor comes from volatile amines produced by anaerobic bacteria that overgrow when lactobacilli are diminished. While other tests like a saline wet mount can reveal clue cells or pathogens, they don’t rely on that odor clue. The potassium hydroxide step underlies the same principle, but the test commonly named and used in practice to diagnose BV is the Whiff test.

Diagnosing bacterial vaginosis hinges on detecting the characteristic changes in vaginal flora and the resulting odor when a sample is exposed to a basic reagent. The Whiff test specifically looks for a fishy odor that appears after adding potassium hydroxide to vaginal discharge. This odor comes from volatile amines produced by anaerobic bacteria that overgrow when lactobacilli are diminished. While other tests like a saline wet mount can reveal clue cells or pathogens, they don’t rely on that odor clue. The potassium hydroxide step underlies the same principle, but the test commonly named and used in practice to diagnose BV is the Whiff test.