How Is Candidiasis Diagnosed?
During infection, most women’s vaginal pH (acidity) remains normal-between 3.8 and 4.2; therefore, an acidity test cannot determine the presence of candidiasis. The most cost-effective means of diagnosis, then, is a microscopic examination of the vaginal discharge. Your doctor uses a cotton swab to take a sample of the vaginal discharge. She mixes the sample with a small amount of potassium hydroxide, places it on a glass slide, and views it under a microscope. The presence of hyphae (branching tubular cells of fungi) and budding yeast clusters indicate a positive finding. In certain cases your doctor may want to culture (grow in a lab) a sample of your vaginal secretion in order to rule out the presence of less common organisms, such as C. glabrata and C. tropicalis.
