YeasTest
- Rapid Diagnostic Test for Vaginal Candidiasis
YeasTest, our rapid point of care
diagnostic test for vaginal candidiasis (thrush), is already available in
a number of countries, where it is well-received by
gynaecologists, physicians and patients alike.
Clinical
evaluation of YeasTest demonstrates that it is more
effective in the diagnosis of thrush (vaginitis) than
microscopic examination and culture, currently the two most
widely used diagnostic techniques. YeasTest is CE Marked and
is 510(k) approved by the FDA. More information on
YeasTest and vaginal yeast infections can be found through the
following links. About vaginal
yeast infections that cause thrush About
YeasTest Why is YeasTest
better than other diagnostic techniques ?
About vaginal
yeast infections that cause thrush Most women will experience the unpleasant
symptoms of thrush, caused by candida yeast infection, at least once in their lifetime, most likely
before or during their 20's. For some women, self-treatment
using one of a range of widely available antifungal medicines
will relieve symptoms in a few days. For many others, the
symptoms of candidiasis can persist and be a significant blight
on quality of life. Thrush is caused by an
overgrowth of the yeast candida, most commonly candida
albicans, although several other strains of candida can
also be the root cause of the infection (with candida
tropicalis, candida glabrata and candida
parapsilosis accounting for most other cases). In a proportion of cases (as many as 1 in
5), self-treatment proves not to be effective, and the symptoms
of thrush return to cause further discomfort. Some women
experience 4 or more instances of thrush in a year, a condition
known as "recurrent thrush", which needs a special
form of treatment firstly to get rid of the infection and
secondly to ensure that it no longer comes back. The symptoms of thrush
are non-specific and can be very similar
to those of other more serious vaginal infections, including
bacterial vaginosis, trichomonas and some sexually-transmitted
diseases. Each of these conditions requires its own specific
treatment if it is to be dealt with effectively, so it is
important that the precise cause of infection is identified
before commencing the most appropriate treatment. 
About YeasTest YeasTest
is a rapid point of care diagnostic test that can be used by
healthcare professionals to help diagnose candida yeast
infections during a patient visit, thus ensuring the patient
receives the most appropriate treatment as quickly as possible. Using
proprietary patented technology, YeasTest detects the presence
in a vaginal sample of an enzyme unique to candida
species that cause vaginal yeast infections. There is no
cross-reactivity with other vaginal pathogens, ensuring highly
accurate results even when clinical symptoms are equivocal.
Main advantages of YeasTest
- simple - a colorimetric test that can be carried
out in any clinic
- fast - results are available in minutes
- reliable - clinically shown to be more accurate
than either culture or microscopy
- flexible - no need for special equipment or
laboratory facilities
- convenient - rapid and accurate results when they
are most needed
How YeasTest works
- take a vaginal swab, then immerse the swab in a container
pre-filled with the YeasTest reagents
- wait 5 minutes and observe the colour change in the liquid
reagents
- read the test result by comparing the solution to
YeasTest's standard colour chart
- significant candida infection will generate a
strong colour change
YeasTest combines the accuracy of the laboratory with the
speed and convenience of a simple point-of-care rapid diagnostic
test.
Why is YeasTest better than
other diagnostic techniques ?
Compared to culture
- YeasTest has greater diagnostic accuracy
- results are available in minutes (no need to wait days for culture
results to be returned from the laboratory)
- YeasTest is more convenient for the doctor - and for the patient
Compared to microscopy
- YeasTest has greater diagnostic accuracy
- YeasTest has greater inter-operator consistency
- YeasTest is more reliable for the doctor and the patient
Compared to clinical diagnosis
- YeasTest has proven diagnostic accuracy even when clinical signs and
symptoms are equivocal
- YeasTest provides an objective result based on scientifically established
principles
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