The table below lists the differences among AV, BV, and CV. The microbiology test provides important information to help reach a conclusive diagnosis, but signs and symptoms need to be considered before making a diagnosis because false positive lab test may occur.
Understanding Vaginal Microbiome Test Results:
Now, the microbiology lab for a vaginal microbiome test uses the NGS (next generation sequencing) technology. The NGS technology runs by a robotic computerized machine and is dumb proof. However, if the customer's symptoms do not match the vaginal microbiome test, it suggests that the lab test might be false positive.
The following events may cause a false positive lab test result:
1) A recent use of antibiotics (within 7 days of the lab test). If you have used antibiotics for any infections (often for UTIs or vaginal infections), your vaginal bacteria may be killed. But these dead bacteria can still be detected by the NGS technology as their DNA can be detected even as dead bacteria. The NGS is great to tell what bacteria species present in your vagina, but it cannot tell LIVE from DEAD bacteria.
2) A recent use of oral or vaginal probiotics, especially inserting yogurt or probiotics pills or use of vaginal probiotic suppositories. These products often carry dead Lactobacillus bacteria due to short shelf lives. The lab test will show a high percentage of Lactobacillus, but if they are all dead, a high percentage Lactobacillus in the lab report may not represent a healthy microbiome. The lab test results will be a false positive result.
3) Even though the bacteria report may be affected by a recent use of antibiotics or probiotics, the fungal test is unaffected. This means that the lab report is not a total loss if it shows false positive for the bacterial result. It can tell if your infection is yeast or not. There is one page on yeast or fungal infection in the lab test report. Please read it carefully. If it shows yeast infection, often Candida albicans, you will need to clear the yeast first. Otherwise, you may focus on clearing bacteria.
What can I do if my lab test result is obviously a false positive result?
You can do a test again, but this time, please do not use antibiotics or probiotics for at least 7 days before you take the next lab test.
What if my pain and discomforts are not tolerable and I cannot wait for 2 weeks to get another lab test?
You can still plan another lab test and wait for the report. But at the same time, you can do a quick self-diagnosis on obvious indicators. These include:
1) Vaginal pH. If your pH is below 4.5, you are normal or have CV. If your pH is over 4.5, you may have BV or AV. How to measure vaginal pH?
2) Whiff test. Insert a Q-tip for 10 seconds to allow absorption. Then, smell it. If you smell foul fishy odor, you may have BV, otherwise, you may have AV or CV.
3) Color of discharge: Clear, may be normal or CV; gray, may be BV; yellow, may be AV.
4) Pain: If you have pain, you may have AV (pain all the time) or CV (pain intensifies before period and relieve afterward). BV often does not have pain.
After you decide which condition you may have, you can purchase the right products to manage it and wait for the next lab test report. If it confirms it, you can continue the treatment. Otherwise, you can make revisions based on the lab report. This may help you find relief sooner if you make the right decision.