Vaginal wet mount

A vaginal wet mount (or vaginal smear[1] or wet prep[2]) is a gynecologic test wherein a sample of vaginal discharge is observed by wet mount microscopy by placing the specimen on a glass slide and mixing with a salt solution.

It may assist in suspicion of vaginal yeast infection, trichomoniasis and bacterial vaginosis.

[citation needed] Infections such as chlamydia, genital warts, syphilis, herpes simplex, and gonorrhea can also affect the vagina, but these diseases are found by doing other tests.

A speculum is used to facilitate use of a swab or spatula to sample fluid inside the vagina.

The sample is then smeared upon a microscope slide and is observed by wet mount microscopy by placing the specimen on a glass slide and mixing with a salt solution.

Vaginal wet mount showing slings of pseudohyphae of Candida albicans surrounded by round vaginal epithelial cells, conferring a diagnosis of candidal vulvovaginitis .
A vaginal wet mount with a clue cell , indicating bacterial vaginosis .