A vaginal microbiome test uses PCR on a swab the client collects at home to show which bacteria and yeasts are present. A healthy profile is usually dominated by one lactobacillus species. A mix of anaerobes such as Gardnerella with few lactobacilli fits bacterial vaginosis. The profile does not replace STI testing or cervical screening, and treatment for BV, thrush or infection sits with the GP. Verified practitioners can order Nutripath’s vaginal microbiome kits through Vively.
| Test type | PCR on a vaginal swab |
|---|---|
| Nutripath code | 2031, 2042 |
| Sample and collection | Vaginal swab collected at home and posted to Nutripath |
| Preparation | Not during a period. As general guidance, no sex, douching, lubricants, vaginal creams or pessaries for 48 hours before. Follow the kit instructions if they differ. |
| Turnaround | 5 to 7 business days for the Vaginal Microbiome Profile (Nutripath estimate). VaginalIQ turnaround is shown in your practitioner account. Allow extra days for postage. |
| Available through | Nutripath test ordered through Vively. You need to be a verified practitioner to refer it. |
| Pricing | Pricing in your practitioner account |
| Results | PDF report from Nutripath, filed in your client’s record and app beside their blood results |
Only practitioners can order this test. Ask your naturopath, nutritionist or dietitian whether they use Vively.
What does the vaginal microbiome test measure?
The profile reads DNA from organisms on a single swab, so it reports which species are present and in what relative amounts. Two kits are available on the platform.
L. crispatus, L. gasseri, L. iners, L. jensenii, L. salivarius and L. vaginalis, plus vaginal pH. Lactobacilli produce lactic acid that keeps vaginal pH low, and L. crispatus dominance is the most stable pattern.
Gardnerella vaginalis, Atopobium vaginae, Prevotella, Megasphaera, Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma species. A mix of these with few lactobacilli is the pattern seen in bacterial vaginosis.
Five Candida species, plus E. coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella, Proteus, Pseudomonas, group B streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus, which are linked to aerobic vaginitis.
Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomonas and herpes simplex 1 and 2. VaginalIQ is a second vaginal microbiome profile on the platform; its marker list is in your practitioner account.
| Nutripath test | Code | Sample | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vaginal Microbiome Profile | 2031 | Vaginal swab | 5 to 7 business days |
| VaginalIQ | 2042 | Vaginal swab | In your account |
How do you order a vaginal microbiome test through Vively?
- Get verified. You need to be a verified practitioner to refer tests. Practitioners with a recognised qualification or membership (ATMS, NHAA, ANTA, Dietitians Australia, NSA, CMA or Ahpra registration) can request free practitioner access.
- Build the order. Log in to the practitioner platform, choose the Nutripath test and add any blood tests or the $99 Baseline Health Check to the same order. Pricing shows in your account, and either your client or your practice can pay.
- Client collects at home. Nutripath sends your client the collection kit once the order is placed. Your client follows the kit instructions (a vaginal swab taken by the client, following the diagram in the kit) and posts the sample back to Nutripath in the packaging provided.
- Review the report. Nutripath’s PDF report is filed in your client’s record and app, next to their blood results, ready for the follow-up consult.
See every Nutripath test you can order on the Nutripath tests page.
Order a vaginal microbiome test with your client’s blood tests
Free access for verified naturopaths, nutritionists and dietitians. Order Nutripath tests and blood pathology in one place, and see every result in your client’s record.
What can a vaginal microbiome test tell you, and what can it not?
Sequencing studies have given a clear picture of what a typical vaginal microbiome looks like. The test describes that picture; it does not decide treatment.
A study of 396 women grouped vaginal microbiomes into five community state types: four dominated by a single lactobacillus and one diverse anaerobic type linked to BV and higher pH (Ravel et al., 2011).
Diverse profiles are more common in some ethnic groups and around menstruation and menopause, often with no symptoms. Read the result with the client’s symptoms.
Bacterial vaginosis, thrush and trichomonas are treated with prescription medicines. A positive chlamydia, gonorrhoea or trichomonas result needs the GP or a sexual health clinic for treatment and partner notification.
A negative result on this profile does not replace full STI testing or the National Cervical Screening Program.
How does the vaginal microbiome fit with blood work?
Blood markers matter most when symptoms keep coming back. They can point to causes such as high glucose or low oestrogen.
- ContextRecurrent thrush with Candida on the profile
High blood glucose makes thrush more likely. Check glucose markers and refer recurrent infections to the GP.
- ContextFew lactobacilli in perimenopause or after menopause
Falling oestrogen thins the vaginal lining and reduces lactobacilli. Discuss options with the GP.
- ContextMixed anaerobes with fatigue or heavy periods
Check iron status, as heavy bleeding and recurrent infection can both wear clients down.
- LowLactobacillus dominant profile with no symptoms
A stable, typical pattern. No action needed.
What can affect a vaginal microbiome result?
- Collection during a period or with spotting
- Sex, douching, lubricants, vaginal creams or pessaries in the 48 hours before
- Antibiotics or antifungal treatment in the previous 2 weeks
- Hormonal contraception, pregnancy and menopause
- Swabbing technique, if the kit instructions aren’t followed closely
When should you refer the client to their GP?
- Abnormal discharge, odour, itch or pain that needs treatment
- Pelvic pain, fever, bleeding after sex or bleeding between periods
- Pregnancy, or symptoms in someone trying to conceive
- Any positive result for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomonas or herpes
- Recurrent BV or thrush, for GP assessment and treatment
How should a client prepare for a vaginal microbiome test?
Copy or print this to send to your client. Follow the instructions in the Nutripath kit if they differ.
Preparing for your vaginal microbiome test
- Collect when you don’t have your period or any spotting.
- As a general guide, avoid sex, douching, lubricants, vaginal creams and pessaries for 48 hours before, unless your kit instructions say otherwise.
- If you have taken antibiotics or thrush treatment in the past 2 weeks, tell your practitioner before you collect.
- Wash your hands, then follow the diagram in the Nutripath kit to take the swab and seal it in the tube.
- Label the tube and post it back the same day in the packaging provided, early in the week.
- If you have pain, fever, unusual bleeding or are pregnant, see your GP rather than waiting for the result.
What does the vaginal microbiome report look like?
Nutripath publishes sample reports on its website. They open in a new tab.
How do practitioners use vaginal microbiome testing with clients?
It is most useful for a client with recurrent BV or thrush who has already been treated by the GP and wants to understand why symptoms return. Ask about symptoms, pregnancy and STI risk first, and send anything that needs treatment to the GP. Use the profile to guide diet, lifestyle and probiotic choices, and retest 8 to 12 weeks later to see whether lactobacilli have recovered. Keep the GP informed, especially if the profile picks up an infection.
Vaginal microbiome test FAQs
Can a naturopath, nutritionist or dietitian order a vaginal microbiome test through Vively?
Yes. You need to be a verified practitioner to refer it. Add Nutripath’s Vaginal Microbiome Profile or VaginalIQ to an order in the Vively practitioner platform. Pricing shows in your account. No account yet? Request free access.
Does the vaginal microbiome test check for STIs?
The Nutripath profile includes chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomonas and herpes simplex. A positive result needs the GP or a sexual health clinic. A negative result does not replace full STI testing.
What does a healthy vaginal microbiome look like?
Usually dominated by one lactobacillus species, most often L. crispatus, L. iners, L. gasseri or L. jensenii, with a low pH. Some women without symptoms have more diverse profiles.
Can the test diagnose bacterial vaginosis?
It shows the bacterial pattern that fits BV. Diagnosis and treatment, usually with prescription antibiotics, sit with the GP, who may also check pH and discharge.
How long do vaginal microbiome results take?
Nutripath estimates 5 to 7 business days for the Vaginal Microbiome Profile. VaginalIQ timing is shown in your practitioner account. Allow extra time for postage.
References
- Ravel J, Gajer P, Abdo Z, et al. Vaginal microbiome of reproductive-age women. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2011.
- Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM). Australian STI Management Guidelines for Use in Primary Care: bacterial vaginosis.
- Nutripath. Vaginal Microbiome Profile, test code 2031. nutripath.com.au, checked 1 October 2026.