Accurate Testing
for Vaginitis

Vaginitis is a Leading Reason for OBGYN Visits1,2

Most women will experience an episode of vaginitis at least once in their lifetime.3 In most cases, vaginitis is caused by bacterial vaginosis (BV), yeast infection (CV) and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) either individually or in combination.4

90%

of vaginitis is caused by BV, CV and TV infections4

10M

OB/GYN visits each year are related to vaginitis1

~36%

of women with BV were also infected with TV and/or Candida species5

The Right Detection, The First Time

Untreated BV and TV infections can lead to increased risk for complications associated with:3

Vaginitis pelvic icon

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and cervicitis.

Vaginitis virus icon

Acquisition of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) including chlamydia, gonorrhea, Mycoplasma genitalium, HPV and HIV.

fetus

Pregnancy-related concerns such as premature delivery and low birth weight.

  • Mixed infections and overlapping symptoms make clinical diagnosis a challenge.6
  • Appropriate diagnosis is essential to prescribe the optimal treatment for vaginitis.3
  • While current guidelines recommend using clinical criteria, microscopy, and culture methods, they can result in incorrect diagnosis and treatment of vaginitis, especially when multiple pathogens are present.7
  • Because each etiology requires different treatment3, accurate testing is essential for patients to receive the right diagnosis the first time.

Better Testing for Women

Group office

NAAT Results in More Accurate Diagnosis and Better Clinical Management

Using the Aptima® Multitest Swab, the Aptima® BV and Aptima® CV/TV Assays—both NAATs—identify bacterial vaginosis (BV), vulvovaginal candidiasis (Candida vaginitis or CV), and trichomoniasis (Trichomonas vaginalis or TV) in symptomatic women from one vaginal sample.8,9

NAAT detects 3x more mixed infection cases than clinical diagnosis with wet mount and Amsel’s criteria.7

NAAT detects:

  • 3X more Candidiasis + BV mixed infections
  • 3X more Candidiasis + TV mixed infections
  • 4X more BV + TV mixed infections

Co-Infection with Vaginitis and Other STIs is Common10

CDC recommends all women diagnosed with BV be tested for STIs.3

~1 in 5 (18.5%)

women who presented with
symptoms of vaginitis had a least 1 STI.10

2x higher STI infection rates

were observed in BV-positive women compared to BV-negative women.10

Vaginitis STI Infographic

STI Prevalence in Women with NAAT BV Diagnosis10

Vaginitis STI Infographic

10.8

Trich co-infection in women with BV

9.3

M. gen co-infection in women with BV

4.5

Co-infection with >1 STI in women with BV

Hologic’s Offerings

Our suite of testing tools leads the market in accuracy and sensitivity, providing the insights you need for your patient’s optimal care.5

Aptima® BV Assay

Aptima® BV Assay

Aptima® BV uses molecular detection of key bacterial targets to help diagnose bacterial vaginosis with improved accuracy over clinical assessments.5,8

Aptima® CV/TV Assay

Aptima® CV/TV Assay

Aptima® CV/TV multi-target NAAT that simultaneously detects Candida species and Trichomonas vaginalis to distinguish common causes of vaginitis.9

Let’s Connect

Have a question or need to talk to a Hologic team member? We’re here to help.

1. Kent HL. Epidemiology of Vaginitis. Am J Obstet Gy necol. 1991 Oct;165(4 Pt 2):1168-76.

2. ACOG Vaginitis Frequently Asked Questions. Accessed December 3, 2025. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/vaginitis.

3. Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, Johnston CM, Muzny CA, Park I, Reno H, Zenilman JM, Bolan GA. Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021 Jul 23;70(4):1-187. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1.

4. Paladine HL. Vaginitis: Diagnosis and Treatment. Am Fam Physician. Am Fam Physician. 2018 Mar 1;97(5):321-329.

5. Schwebke JR, Taylor SN, Ackerman R, et al. Clinical Validation of the Aptima Bacterial Vaginosis and Aptima Candida/Trichomonas Vaginitis Assays: Results from a Prospective Multicenter Clinical Study. J Clin Microbiol. 2020;58(2):e01643-19. Published 2020 Jan 28. doi:10.1128/JCM.01643-19.

6. Anderson MR, Klink K and Cohrssen A. Evaluation of Vaginal Complaints. JAMA. 2004;291(11):1368–1379. doi:10.1001/jama.291.11.1368.

7. Schwebke JR, et al. Diagnostic Performance of a Molecular Test Versus Clinician Assessment of Vaginitis. J Clin Microbiol. 2018; 56. doi:10.1128/JCM.00252-18.

8. Aptima BV Assay. US package insert AW-31481-001. Hologic, Inc.; 2025.

9. Aptima CV/TV Assay, Pather. US package insert AW-31482-001. Hologic, Inc.; 2025.

10. Schwebke JR, et al. Vaginitis and risk of sexually transmitted infections: results of a multi-center U.S. clinical study using STI nucleic acid
amplification testing. J Clin Microbiol. 2024 Sep 11;62(9):e0081624. A Hologic sponsored study.