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Quick Guide
The trichomoniasis test detects Trichomonas vaginalis, the parasite behind the most common curable sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States. A urine sample is all that’s needed. Results are typically ready within one to three business days after the lab receives your sample.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Sample type | Urine |
| Collection method | In-person at a lab or clinic |
| Turnaround time | Typically one to three business days |
| Fasting required | No |
| Age requirement | Typically 18+ |
If you recently had unprotected sex or think you were exposed, testing soon makes sense. Unlike antibody-based tests, NAAT (nucleic acid amplification testing) detects the parasite directly, so there’s no antibody-style window period. Most clinicians recommend waiting about one to two weeks after a possible exposure for the most reliable result. An early negative doesn’t rule anything out. If your first result is negative but exposure was confirmed, retest after that interval closes.
About the Trichomoniasis Test
Purpose of the test
A trichomoniasis test finds an active infection with Trichomonas vaginalis, a microscopic parasite spread through vaginal sex. Trichomoniasis can increase the risk of getting or spreading other sexually transmitted infections, and pregnant women with trichomoniasis are more likely to give birth too early, with their babies more likely to have a low birth weight. According to the CDC’s trichomoniasis overview, about 70% of infected people have no symptoms, so testing is the only reliable way to know your status.
The test serves two purposes:
- Screening: The CDC recommends routine trichomoniasis screening for all women with HIV, at entry to care and at least annually after. Screening may also be considered for sexually active women at higher risk, including those with new or multiple partners, a history of STIs, or who are in high-prevalence settings such as correctional facilities.
- Diagnosis: Testing makes sense when you have symptoms like unusual discharge, genital itching or burning, or pain during urination or sex.
Other STIs won’t show up on this test. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV require separate tests.
What does the trichomoniasis test measure?
One marker from a single urine sample, processed at a CLIA-certified (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) lab.
- Trichomonas vaginalis: Detects the RNA of the T. vaginalis parasite using transcription-mediated amplification (TMA), a type of NAAT.
TMA is the current standard for trichomoniasis detection. It finds the parasite’s genetic material directly, making it more sensitive than older methods. Here’s how the main approaches compare:
- NAAT/TMA (this test): Detects T. vaginalis RNA or DNA in urine or a vaginal swab. Sensitivity is above 95% in women with vaginal swabs. Urine NAAT is reliable in both sexes, though somewhat less sensitive in men because parasite load in the urethra tends to be lower.
- Wet-mount microscopy: A provider looks at vaginal fluid under a microscope. Results come back in minutes, but sensitivity is only 44% to 68%. It isn’t useful for men.
- Culture: Grows the parasite from a sample over three to seven days. More sensitive than wet mount, but slower. Used when NAAT results are unclear or treatment resistance is suspected.
- Rapid antigen tests: Point-of-care tests with results in 10 to 15 minutes. Less sensitive than NAAT. Not widely available.
For men, urine NAAT is the go-to method. For women, vaginal swab NAAT has slightly higher sensitivity than urine, but urine is a practical and accurate alternative.
When should I get a trichomoniasis test?
Consider testing if any of these apply:
- Unusual genital discharge, itching, burning, or soreness
- Pain during urination or sex
- A recent possible exposure to trichomoniasis
- A sexual partner diagnosed with trichomoniasis or another STI
- A new sex partner or multiple sex partners
- A current pregnancy with symptoms of trichomoniasis
- A prior STI diagnosis, including HIV
For routine screening, the CDC’s STI treatment guidelines recommend or advise trichomoniasis testing for:
- All women with HIV, at the first HIV evaluation and annually after
- Sexually active women at higher risk, such as those with new or multiple partners, a partner with an STI, or inconsistent condom use, for whom screening may be considered
- Symptomatic pregnant women, at any stage of pregnancy; the benefit of routine screening for trichomoniasis in asymptomatic pregnant women hasn’t been established
- Anyone who finished trichomoniasis treatment about three months prior, due to high reinfection rates
- People in communities with higher local rates of trichomoniasis, including those who have been in correctional facilities
- Private Results in a Secure Online Portal
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How It Works
How to get tested
You can order the Trichomoniasis Test yourself online, with no doctor visit or referral needed. A licensed physician reviews and authorizes your order as part of the process. Most results are ready in one to three business days and appear in your secure online account.
Before the test
No fasting or special prep is needed. If you’re providing a urine sample, don’t urinate for at least one hour beforehand, since urinating too close to collection can dilute the sample and lower accuracy. Female patients providing a urine sample should not cleanse the labial area before collecting.
Collecting a vaginal swab instead of urine? You can do so during your period. Menstruation doesn’t affect the test. Don’t perform the swab if you have vaginal bleeding unrelated to your period.
Tell the lab staff about any recent antibiotic use. Antibiotics don’t interfere with NAAT directly, but they may affect other STI tests ordered at the same time.
During the test
The whole visit takes about 15 minutes. There’s no blood draw. No physical exam either.
- Check in at the lab or clinic and confirm your sample type with the staff.
- For a urine sample: you’ll get a collection cup and instructions. Start urinating into the toilet, then move the cup under your stream to collect the first portion (first-catch urine). Cap the cup and hand it back.
- For a vaginal swab: a staff member gives you a sealed collection kit with step-by-step instructions. You self-collect in a private space. The swab goes into the provided tube, which you return to the staff.
After the test
Results are typically ready within one to three business days after the lab receives your sample, though timing can vary. You’ll get them delivered to your secure online account.
What Do My Results Mean?
If your results are negative
No Trichomonas vaginalis RNA was found in your sample. That’s reassuring. But NAAT detects the parasite directly rather than waiting for antibodies to develop, so a negative result very soon after exposure may still miss an early infection before the parasite has reached detectable levels. Most clinicians recommend waiting about one to two weeks after a possible exposure before testing.
Symptoms that keep coming back after a negative result deserve follow-up. Genital irritation, unusual discharge, or pain during urination can have other causes, bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, chlamydia, or gonorrhea among them. Your provider can help figure out what’s going on.
If your results are positive
Trichomonas vaginalis was found in your sample. The good news: trichomoniasis is curable. Treatment regimens differ by sex. For women, the CDC recommends metronidazole 500 mg twice daily for seven days. For men, a single 2g dose of metronidazole is standard. Tinidazole 2g as a single dose is an alternative for both. Your provider will figure out the right regimen for you.
Don’t have sex until you and any recent partners have finished treatment and symptoms are gone. Both partners need treatment at the same time, or reinfection is likely. Retesting about three months after treatment is recommended even if you feel fine, because reinfection is common when a partner wasn’t treated.
If you weren’t expecting a positive result, that’s understandable. According to the MedlinePlus, trichomoniasis is a common but curable infection, and most people with it have no symptoms at all, which is why a positive result means you can get treated and stop the infection from spreading.
No doctor required
Order the test you want yourself, without a referral or insurance.
Certified lab quality
Samples are processed at accredited labs that meet national clinical standards.
Thousands of U.S. lab locations
Find a lab near you to give your sample.
Fast online results
Most are ready to view securely within a few business days.
Your results stay private
They reach you alone, not your insurer or your medical record.
Upfront pricing
Know the full cost before you order, with no surprise bills.
- Private Results in a Secure Online Portal
- Thousands of CLIA-Certified U.S. Labs
- Results Typically Ready in 1 to 3 Business Days
- Upfront pricing, no surprise bills
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can men get tested for trichomoniasis?
Yes. Men can carry and spread trichomoniasis, often without symptoms. Urine NAAT is the standard test. The parasite infects the urethra, and the organism load there tends to be lower than in the vaginal tract, so testing soon after exposure may be less sensitive. If you notice penile discharge, burning after urination, or irritation inside the penis, test promptly.
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How accurate is a urine test for trichomoniasis?
NAAT on urine is highly accurate. In women, vaginal swab NAAT reaches sensitivity above 95%, and urine NAAT is close behind. In men, urine NAAT is the best available option and is clinically reliable, though sensitivity is somewhat lower because parasite load in the male urethra tends to be smaller. Wet-mount microscopy, by contrast, misses roughly 32% to 56% of infections and isn’t recommended on its own.
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Can you test negative for trichomoniasis and still have it?
Yes, a few things can cause a false negative. Testing very soon after exposure before the parasite has reached detectable levels is one. Low parasite load (more common in men) is another. Urinating within an hour before collection can also lower accuracy. If you have symptoms or a known exposure and your result is negative, talk with your provider about retesting.
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Can a blood test detect trichomoniasis?
No. There’s no validated blood test for trichomoniasis. The parasite lives in the urogenital tract, not the bloodstream, so urine or swab samples are the only reliable options. NAAT on urine or a vaginal swab is the standard approach.
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I'm pregnant. Can trichomoniasis affect my baby?
Yes. Pregnant women with trichomoniasis are more likely to give birth too early, and their babies are more likely to have a low birth weight. Symptomatic pregnant women should be tested and treated at any stage of pregnancy. If you’re pregnant and test positive, contact your OB-GYN right away. Treatment during pregnancy is safe and recommended.
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How soon after treatment should I retest?
The CDC recommends retesting about three months after finishing treatment. Reinfection is common, especially if a partner wasn’t treated at the same time. If symptoms return before the three-month mark, retest sooner.
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Can I get trichomoniasis again after being treated?
Yes. Treatment doesn’t make you immune. If you’re exposed again, you can be reinfected. That’s why both partners need treatment at the same time, and why the three-month retest matters. Regular STI screening is the best way to catch reinfection early.
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Do I need to fast before this test?
No. You can eat and drink normally before your appointment.
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Will anyone see my results besides me?
No. Your results go to your secure online account and are not shared with anyone else. You can download or print them to share with your own doctor if you choose.
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Can I use insurance to pay for this test?
We do not bill insurance directly, which keeps your testing and results private. You can pay with HSA or FSA funds, and we can provide an itemized receipt if you want to request reimbursement.