Genital Discharge Microscopic Test - Wet Mount Microscopic Examination of Discharge

A direct and rapid microscopic examination of a sample of genital discharge (usually vaginal, but it may also be from the penis or cervix). A small amount of discharge is placed on a microscope slide with two drops: one of normal saline and the other of 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution. It is examined under the microscope for: key cells (indicative of bacterial vaginosis), fungal cells or hyphae (indicative of a yeast infection), motile Trichomonas vaginalis parasites, and an elevated white blood cell count.