Potassium hydroxide KOH Test for Bacteria Vaginosis - Whiff Test

Описание: potassium hydroxide (KOH) test is a quick diagnostic tool used to help identify bacterial vaginosis (BV) and differentiate it from other vaginal infections like yeast infections. It involves adding KOH to a vaginal discharge sample and observing the reaction.

Here’s how it works:

🧪 What Is the KOH Test?
A 10% potassium hydroxide solution is added to a sample of vaginal discharge on a microscope slide.

The test is part of the “whiff test” or “amine test”, used in clinical settings.

🔍 Purpose and Interpretation
Positive whiff test: A fishy odor is released when KOH reacts with amines produced by anaerobic bacteria in BV.

Microscopic evaluation: KOH dissolves epithelial cells and mucus, making it easier to detect yeast cells (e.g., Candida) under the microscope.

🧫 Role in Diagnosing BV
The KOH test is one of several criteria used in the Amsel criteria for diagnosing BV:

Thin, gray-white vaginal discharge

Vaginal pH greater Than 4.5

Positive whiff test (fishy odor with KOH)

Presence of clue cells on wet mount microscopy

A diagnosis of BV is typically made when 3 out of 4 criteria are met.

⚠️ Limitations
The KOH test is not definitive on its own.

It may be less reliable in mixed infections or if the sample is old.

False positives can occur if other infections produce similar odors.

🧠 Clinical Use
Often performed in primary care or gynecology clinics.

Helps guide treatment decisions between antibiotics for BV or antifungals for yeast infections.

#Whifftest