What is a Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) Test?
Imbalance of certain bacteria in the vagina can cause bacterial vaginosis (BV).
BV is a common condition that can be treated with a few antibiotics after diagnosis.
There are three main types of vaginal infections:
From aerobic bacteria (that grow in oxygen environment) causing Aerobic Vaginitis: a vaginal infection with painful inflammation without any strong smell. Treatment includes antibiotics and life style changes (e.g., probiotics).
From anaerobic bacteria (that grow without oxygen), causing Bacterial Vaginosis: infection without any pain but strong smell of rotten fish. Needs antibiotics once growth of certain bacteria is confirmed.
From fungal infection (Candida Vaginitis): extremely painful and irritating, often shows up as thick white discharge without any smell. May require antifungal treatment.
None of these are sexually transmitted disease (STD), but having multiple partners, not using condoms, or douching can increase the risk of BV. Some studies suggest treating male partners can reduce the risk of BV in women.
What causes bacterial vaginosis is not fully understood. But it does not spread from swimming pools, clothing, or toilet sheets.
A bacterial vaginosis test (bvtest) can help you get the treatment quickly and reduce the risk of premature pregnancy, STDs, and pelvic inflammatory disease.
What are the symptoms of Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)?
BV may not always have any symptoms. But a few common symptoms include:
Unexpected watery vaginal discharge of white or gray color.
Vaginal odor that smells like rotten fish.
Painful burning and itching during peeing.
Constant sensation of itching, burning or pain in or around the vagina.
Increase in smell or discharge after sex or douching.
What does a BV Test measure?
A bacterial vaginosis test measures the following markers:
Bacillus fragilis
Mobiluncus curtisii
Sneathia sanguinegens
Streptococcus anginosus
Atopobium vaginae
Mobiluncus mulieris
Megasphaera type 1
Megasphaera type 2
Gardnerella vaginalis
Bifidobacterium breve
Lactobacillus acidophilus
Prevotella bivia
3 different Bacterial Vaginosis-Associated Bacteria (BVAB 1, BVAB 2, BVAB 3)
How to check bacterial vaginosis at home?
You can order a simple, low-cost BV test to assess your infection without going to a doctor or a lab. Order the test kit online, collect a sample with a few swabs, send the sample to our CLIA-certified labs, and find out your results in a few days.
Q: Can I purchase the test across US?
A: Except New York and New Jersey our tests are available in all 48 states. State regulations in NY, NJ do not allow us to ship the tests to their residents. We also ship to Canada and rest of the world.
Q: What does the BV Test kit contain and how do I use it?
A: The kit for our Bacterial Vaginosis Test contains a few swabs, a sample preserving tube, instructions on how to collect the sample, and a form for basic information including date and time of collection. The directions are straight forward and easy to follow.
Q: How long does it take to receive the results?
A: You will receive the kit within 3-5 business days with a prepaid return envelope (for orders within US). After you ship the sample and it is received by the lab, most results are available within 5-7 business days.
For orders from outside US, shipping to your address is FREE but we do not cover return shipping to the lab.
Q: How do you handle my samples and data?
A: Your samples are kept by the lab for a few weeks and the extracted DNA is kept for a few months. The samples are disposed off in biohazardous waste that is picked up by a certified waste management company that specializes in medical waste disposal and follows strict regulatory guidelines.
Regarding your data: the labs are required to keep the data for a minimum of 2 years. Your data is not released anyone else except those authorized by you or as required by the law. We also ensure that such information is stored securely in accordance with HIPAA and other applicable federal as well as state laws and regulations. In certain cases, we may have to release information to a third party if such information is required for medical treatment, emergency or by federal or state law.
Q: What do I expect from the report?
A: The report with your test results will be easy to understand and will have all the necessary details. It will mark each bacteria as positive or negative depending on your results. The report will also briefly discuss what the results mean.
Q: Can I use my insurance to pay for the test?
A: No. We do not have the capability to process insurance claims. Insurance plans vary by individuals and may not pay for certain tests. Please talk to your insurance provider if you have any further concerns. We are happy to provide a receipt if you want to submit it yourself, or require one for HSA or FSA accounts.
Q: How reliable are my results?
A: We have partnered with CLIA-certified labs that are used by physicians across the US. These labs are regulated by the states, as well as Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Many tests from these labs are FDA approved to ensure they meet the proper regulatory requirements. Additionally, the College of American Pathologists (CAP) requires inter-laboratory tests to ensure the ranges established by each lab do not drift or are within acceptable ranges. This is done through regularly testing reference samples between different labs. Finally, the labs test thousands of sample for different age groups and health conditions, and have well established reference data to compare your results against this large pool.
Q: Can you recommend what therapy should I take if my levels are high or low?
A: Unfortunately, no. As a lab test provider we can only test and report out data from your samples. We are not authorized to provide any medical recommendations. But we strongly encourage you to discuss the results with your doctor for next steps.
