Thrush - Diagnosis

Last Updated on Monday, 02 August 2010 10:53 Written by Dr Kristie McNealy

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Thrush Diagnosis

You can only be certain you have thrush if you have a test. If you think you have thrush you can speak to your doctor, pharmacist or womenâ€™s wellness clinic. It is important that you donâ€™t delay seeking advice if you think you may have been at risk of a sexually transmitted disease.

What does the thrush diagnosis test involve?

Woman Diagnosis

A doctor or nurse will:

Use a swab to collect a sample of cells from the vagina, during an external examination.
Look at vagina and genital area

Men Diagnosis

A doctor or nurse will:

Look at the penis and genital area
Use a swab to collect a sample of cells from the genital area including under the foreskin.

A swab looks a little like a cotton bud, but is smaller, soft and rounded. The swab is wiped over parts of the body that could be affected and easily picks up samples of discharge and cells. It only takes a few seconds and is not usually painful, although it may be uncomfortable for a few moments.

Samples taken are looked at under the microscope to check for thrush. Sometimes the results are available immediately. If the sample is sent away to a lab the results are usually available within one week.

Sometimes thrush signs will be noticed during a cervical smear test, but you will only need treatment if you have problems with symptoms like itching or discharge. Routine blood test will NOT detect infections such as thrush.

How accurate are thrush diagnostic tests?

Tests for thrush are usually very accurate in women. They are less accurate in men, so diagnosis is usually made on appearance alone.

Where can I get a thrush diagnostic test?

You can have a test as soon as you have signs or symptoms. There are a number of services you can go to. Choose the service you feel most comfortable with. A test can be done at: