FEM V

Indications

• vaginitis

Contraindications

• unreliable within 48 hours of sexual intercourse
• unreliable 1 day prior to & 5 days after menses

Procedure

• diagnostic strip placed into panty liner
• measures pH & dilution of vaginal discharge

Interpretation

• positive test:
  • watery discharge
  • higher than normal pH,* > 5.1, > 4.3 if watery
  • suggests bacterial vaginitis
• negative test: suggests candidiasis

* normal vaginal secretion pH= 4.0-4.5

False positives in 20%

False negatives 20%

More general terms

• point of care test

Additional terms

• gonadotropin