Your vaginal microbiome collection
The Vaginal Microbiome Test uses two vaginal swabs, self-collected at home. It's a simple, private process — a little preparation in the days before helps make sure your result is accurate.
A simple test you do at home
Your kit is posted directly to you — no collection centre visit needed. Take the two swabs at home, then mail both tubes back to the lab in the prepaid packaging provided.
In the days before
Don't change any prescribed or regular medications or supplements without your practitioner's guidance. If they're happy for you to, follow the timing below.
Stop taking probiotics, where possible.
Finish any short-term prescribed medication (for example, antibiotics).
No sexual intercourse.
On the day, before you collect
These can affect your sample, so avoid:
- Applying vaginal lotions, creams or emollients
- Washing the genital area beforehand
- Collecting while menstruating — wait until your period has finished
Collecting your samples
This is a two-part process using two different swabs. Wash your hands before each part, work through them in order, and don't touch the soft tip of either swab.
The ESwab
- Peel open the package and take out the swab. Hold it by the white stick at the indentation point — don't touch the soft swab or hold it by the very end.
- Get comfortable in a position that works for you — sitting on the toilet, squatting, or with one foot raised.
- Gently insert the swab into the vagina until your fingers reach the vulva, rotate it 4 times, then remove it. If you feel resistance, reposition and try again. If you notice any unexpected bleeding, contact your practitioner.
- Place the swab into the ESwab transport tube and push until the pre-moulded break-point line meets the tube's entry point, then snap the swab there.
- Discard the handle above the break point (don't cut or touch the swab end) and seal the tube tightly.
- Label the tube with your name, date of birth and time of collection, then set it aside.
The BD MAX swab
- Twist the cap to break the seal (don't use it if the seal is already broken), then pull the cap and its attached swab off the tube. Don't touch the soft tip or lay the swab down — if you do, use a new swab.
- Hold the swab by the cap with the tip toward you. Gently spread the skin outside the vagina, insert the tip into the opening pointing toward your lower back, and relax.
- Gently slide the swab about 5 cm (2 inches) in, rotating gently if needed. If it won't slide easily, stop and check with your clinician. Rotate for 10–15 seconds.
- Withdraw the swab without touching the surrounding skin, then insert it fully into the BD MAX UVE buffer tube so the tip is at the bottom.
- Break the shaft at the score mark (avoid splashing), re-cap the tube tightly, and label it with your details, date and time — without covering the barcodes.
What this test analyses
Your two swabs are screened across 31 markers, including:
Measures: Vaginal pH, BV & aerobic vaginitis · STIs — chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomonas, herpes, mycoplasma · Opportunistic bacteria · Beneficial lactobacilli · Yeasts (candida)
Packing & sending
Send both tubes back to the lab — the ESwab transport tube and the BD MAX UVE buffer tube.
- Place both tubes (with their swabs inside) into the sealable section of the specimen transport bag and seal it.
- Check your request form is complete and place it into the non-sealable section of the transport bag.
- Put the transport bag and request form into the reply-paid padded envelope and post it back the same day via your nearest Australia Post outlet or express post box.
Before you post — quick check
- Both swabs snapped off and tubes tightly capped
- Both tubes labelled (name, date of birth, date & time) with barcodes visible
- Request form complete
- Posting the same day you collect
Haven't ordered yet?
Order your Vaginal Microbiome Test kit here, and view results securely in your i-screen dashboard.