Which test is positive in the case of bacterial vaginosis?

The whiff test is a key diagnostic tool for identifying bacterial vaginosis. In this test, a sample of vaginal discharge is mixed with a few drops of potassium hydroxide (KOH). If bacterial vaginosis is present, the mixture will produce a strong fishy odor, which is attributed to the presence of amines released from overgrown bacteria. This odor becomes particularly pronounced after sexual intercourse or during menses and is a hallmark of bacterial vaginosis.

While the wet mount, saline prep, and KOH prep may provide additional information about the vaginal environment, such as the presence of clue cells or yeast, they do not specifically indicate bacterial vaginosis as clearly as the whiff test does. The whiff test is a quick, bedside assessment that helps clinicians make an accurate diagnosis, making it a distinguishing feature for bacterial vaginosis.