Trichomoniasis Test: full STI screen plus trich test
$39no additional costs — see fees page
$39 SMS pathology referral for trichomoniasis testing as part of the full STI screen. Walk into any Australian pathology lab. Most results within 24 hours.
If anything comes back positive, your follow-up telehealth consult with a Specialist GP is included at no additional cost.
5,000+ collection centres across Australia (any major pathology lab)
You will receive a pathology referral by SMS. Take it to any pathology clinic.
Everything you need to know about trichomoniasis testing in Australia
What this page covers. Trichomoniasis (often called "trich") is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a single-celled parasite, not a bacterium or virus. It is one of the most common non-viral STIs worldwide, but rates in Australia are lower than chlamydia or gonorrhoea outside specific population groups. This page covers what a trichomoniasis test involves, how the modern test differs from older methods, when the test is reliable after exposure, who should test, and what positive and negative results actually mean.
What trichomoniasis is. Trichomoniasis is caused by Trichomonas vaginalis, a microscopic single-celled parasite (a protozoan) that lives in the genital and urinary tract. In women, it causes vaginitis (inflammation of the vagina), often with frothy yellow-green discharge, irritation, and a fishy odour. In men, it causes urethritis (inflammation of the urethra), but most men have no symptoms at all. Untreated trichomoniasis in pregnancy can cause premature birth and low birth weight. The infection is treatable with a single dose of oral medication in most cases.
How common is it in Australia. Trichomoniasis is much less common in the general Australian population than in some other parts of the world. The infection is more prevalent in some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, in older women, and in people in their 40s and 50s. The age pattern is different from chlamydia (which is most common in people under 30). Routine screening for trichomoniasis is not currently recommended across the general population in Australia, but testing is recommended for women with symptoms, sexual contacts, and in specific clinical contexts.
The test itself. The current test for trichomoniasis is a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) on a urine sample or self-collected vaginal swab. The NAAT detects the genetic material of the parasite. Older methods — particularly wet-mount microscopy (looking at vaginal discharge under a microscope to see moving parasites) — are still sometimes used in specific clinical settings but have lower sensitivity than the NAAT. The NAAT detects infections that the older microscopy method misses, including many infections in men where no symptoms are present.
Time before a test is reliable. The NAAT for trichomoniasis is reliable from about 1 to 2 weeks after the last possible exposure. This is shorter than syphilis (6 weeks) but similar to chlamydia and gonorrhoea (2 weeks). Testing earlier is reasonable if symptoms are present, because symptomatic infections usually have higher parasite loads.
Who should test. Current Australian guidelines recommend trichomoniasis testing for: women with symptoms of vaginitis (discharge, irritation, fishy odour, painful urination), men with persistent urethritis after standard chlamydia and gonorrhoea treatment, sexual contacts of someone diagnosed with trichomoniasis, women in higher-prevalence communities as part of routine screening, and during pregnancy in women with symptoms. Testing is sometimes added to comprehensive STI panels by patient request. See when to test after exposure for the full timing guide.
Why most men have no symptoms. Trichomoniasis in men usually clears without symptoms because the male urethra is a less favourable environment for the parasite than the female vagina. Many men clear the infection without symptoms and without treatment. The clinical relevance for men is mainly partner transmission — passing the infection to a female partner who can then develop symptoms. This is why partner notification matters even when the man himself has no symptoms.
Diagnostic clues alongside the test. In women with symptoms, certain clinical features can suggest trichomoniasis before the test result is back. A pH measurement of the vaginal fluid is often elevated (above 4.5) in trichomoniasis, similar to bacterial vaginosis. The classic appearance is a frothy yellow-green discharge, though many infections do not look this way. The Specialist GP can discuss what features are present at the consult and whether an in-person review adds value.
A positive result. The Specialist GP calls to discuss the result and the treatment pathway. See trichomoniasis treatment for the full clinical detail on the regimen. Treatment is usually a single dose of oral medication for both partners on the same day. Partner notification covers sexual partners from the past 2 months and is usually straightforward because trichomoniasis treatment is well-tolerated and effective.
A negative result. A negative trichomoniasis test taken at the right time reliably excludes infection. If your symptoms continue despite a negative test, the Specialist GP discusses other possible causes — bacterial vaginosis, candida (thrush), atrophic vaginitis in postmenopausal women, or other less common causes. Many of these conditions can mimic trichomoniasis symptoms.
What the infection actually looks like under microscopy. The Trichomonas vaginalis parasite is a single-celled organism about the size of a white blood cell, with whip-like structures (flagella) that propel it through fluid. Under the microscope on a fresh wet-mount slide, the parasite is visible as a pear-shaped cell moving in a characteristic jerky way. The wet-mount finding is highly specific but only sensitive in about 60 percent of culture-positive cases — meaning a negative microscopy result does not rule out infection. The NAAT has changed this picture by detecting genetic material rather than relying on the parasite being still alive and moving at the moment of testing.
Why trichomoniasis is sometimes missed. The infection is frequently overlooked for two reasons. First, many people (especially men) have no symptoms and are not tested unless a partner has been diagnosed. Second, the older wet-mount microscopy method misses a substantial proportion of infections. Modern NAAT-based testing has improved detection significantly. If you have ongoing vaginitis symptoms despite a negative wet-mount, ask about the NAAT specifically.
Pregnancy and trichomoniasis. Trichomoniasis in pregnancy is associated with premature birth, premature rupture of membranes, and low birth weight. Treatment in pregnancy is safe and effective. If you have symptoms during pregnancy and are being seen at an Australian maternity service, mention this at the consult. The Specialist GP coordinates with your maternity team if any treatment is given.
Co-infections. Trichomoniasis is often diagnosed alongside other STIs and bacterial vaginosis. A new trichomoniasis diagnosis is a reasonable trigger for a broader STI screen if you have not had one recently. Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B are the standard panel — see 5-infection STI screen and the comparison of STI tests for context.
Partner notification. Sexual partners from the past 2 months should be informed so they can be treated. For trichomoniasis specifically, treating partners empirically (without their own test) is common practice and is supported by Australian guidelines, because the treatment is single-dose, well-tolerated, and effective. This is different from Mgen, where the resistance situation argues against empirical partner treatment.
Confidentiality. All trichomoniasis testing is confidential. The consult and results stay between you and the Specialist GP. Trichomoniasis is not a notifiable infection in Australian jurisdictions, so there is no public health reporting required.
Want to discuss your situation? A Specialist GP phone consult can discuss whether testing is appropriate for your situation, what timing makes sense, and what positive or negative results would mean. See the hero section above for booking. For Melbourne residents, see trichomoniasis testing in Melbourne. For pathology collection across Australia, see pathology collection centres.
Frequently asked questions
Not sure what you have? Compare symptoms side by side in our STI Comparison Guide — plain English, no jargon.
Not sure when to test? See our When to Get an STI Test guide — how long after exposure to test, testing frequency, and what to do after exposure.
At least 1 to 2 weeks. The current NAAT-based test for trichomoniasis is reliable from about 1 to 2 weeks after the last possible exposure — shorter than syphilis (6 weeks) but similar to chlamydia and gonorrhoea (2 weeks). If you have current symptoms (vaginitis, frothy discharge, fishy odour), testing earlier is reasonable because symptomatic infections usually have higher parasite loads. For people without symptoms, the 2-week wait is the standard.
Neither. Trichomoniasis is caused by a single-celled parasite (a protozoan) called Trichomonas vaginalis. This makes it different from chlamydia and gonorrhoea, which are bacterial, and herpes and HPV, which are viral. The implication is that trichomoniasis needs a specific class of medication that works against parasites — standard antibiotics for bacterial STIs do not clear it. Treatment for trichomoniasis is usually a single oral dose and is highly effective.
Yes, this is one of the most relevant age groups for trichomoniasis testing. Rates in women in their 40s and 50s are higher than in younger women in Australia, which is the opposite of the chlamydia pattern. The standard panel for new vaginitis symptoms includes trichomoniasis, bacterial vaginosis, and candida. The Specialist GP can also discuss other causes that present similarly in this age group, including atrophic vaginitis.
Yes, ideally. Trichomoniasis in men is frequently without symptoms but can still be transmitted to partners. The current NAAT-based test detects infections that older microscopy methods miss, including many infections in men without symptoms. The Specialist GP can also discuss whether treating partners on the basis of your diagnosis (without their own test result) makes sense based on the timing of last contact — for trichomoniasis specifically, treating partners on the basis of your diagnosis is a well-established approach because the treatment is single-dose and well-tolerated.
Yes. The older wet-mount microscopy method detects only about 60 percent of trichomoniasis infections that the modern NAAT can detect. A negative wet-mount in someone with ongoing symptoms is a reasonable trigger for NAAT testing. The wet-mount sees the parasite directly under the microscope, which requires the parasite to be alive and visibly moving at the moment of examination — the NAAT detects genetic material regardless. The Specialist GP can arrange the NAAT alongside any other testing needed.
They are different conditions but can present similarly. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is an imbalance in the normal vaginal bacteria, not a sexually transmitted infection in the same sense. Trichomoniasis is an STI caused by a parasite. Both can cause vaginal discharge, fishy odour, and elevated vaginal pH. Testing distinguishes the two: a NAAT for trichomoniasis is positive or negative; BV is diagnosed by characteristic features and sometimes specific BV testing. Both are treatable, but the medications differ.
Yes. The standard test in men is a first-part urine NAAT — the same sample type used for chlamydia and gonorrhoea. Hold the urine for at least an hour before collecting. For men with urethral symptoms that persist after standard chlamydia and gonorrhoea treatment, trichomoniasis testing is reasonable particularly if the female partner has any vaginitis symptoms.
Not routinely as part of standard antenatal screening in most parts of Australia. If you have vaginitis symptoms during pregnancy, testing is recommended because untreated trichomoniasis is associated with premature birth and low birth weight. Treatment in pregnancy is safe and effective. The Specialist GP coordinates with your maternity team if any treatment is given.
Pathology lab fees for trichomoniasis testing have Medicare item numbers that apply in specific situations — particularly for symptomatic presentations and partner-contact testing. The NAAT add-on may have a separate fee depending on your pathology provider. See our fees page for Clinic365 fees, and the Specialist GP can confirm the pathology fee structure at booking.
Routine screening for trichomoniasis in the general population is not currently recommended in Australia because the prevalence in low-risk groups is low enough that universal testing would yield many false-positive results and unnecessary treatments. Testing is reserved for people with symptoms, partners of someone diagnosed, women in higher-prevalence communities, and specific clinical scenarios such as pregnancy with symptoms. If you specifically want trichomoniasis included in your STI screen, mention this at the consult.
