Bacterial Vaginosis Test: How It's Done & Results - Cleveland Clinic

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What is a bacterial vaginosis test?

A bacterial vaginosis test is a way to diagnose a bacterial vaginal infection called bacterial vaginosis (BV). It’s sometimes called a wet mount test or a vaginal pH test.

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The test uses a sample of fluid (discharge) from your vagina.

When is a bacterial vaginosis test used?

Healthcare providers use this test to determine if you have bacterial vaginosis, a common bacterial infection.

A healthy vagina contains a lot of good bacteria and some bad bacteria. But sometimes, there’s an imbalance. When your vagina contains too many bad bacteria and not enough good bacteria, the imbalance leads to bacterial vaginosis.

Some common symptoms of BV are:

  • Foul-smelling vaginal discharge (often described as fish-like).
  • Gray or white vaginal discharge.
  • Pain, irritation or itching.
  • A burning sensation when peeing.

Who orders bacterial vaginosis tests?

A primary care provider (PCP) or gynecologist orders the test and collects a sample of your vaginal discharge in their office. Then a healthcare provider does one or more of the following:

  • Looks at cells in the sample under a microscope.
  • Runs tests on cells in the sample.
  • Sends the sample to a laboratory for analysis.

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