Detection of T. vaginalis in women. Comparison of "wet smear" results with those of two cervical cytological methods.

Cytologists have recognized Trichomonas vaginalis in stained preparations of cervical and vaginal material for a number of years (Papanicolaou and Traut, 1943). However, clinicians have been slow to accept the cytological diagnosis of T. vaginalis, possibly because the organisms may be reported in women who are asymptomatic, and possibly because they may be seen in fixed smears when motile forms are not found in fresh wet preparations (Papanicolaou and Traut, 1943; Way, 1963). The object of this investigation was to assess the value of stained smears in the diagnosis of trichomoniasis by comparing the findings obtained by two differently stained cervical smears, fresh wet preparations and a culture method, in women under 25 years of age. We chose this age group to combine the study with an assessment of the value of cervical cancer screening in young women.