Operational Obstetrics & Gynecology

This video shows the preparation of glass microscope slides to examine vaginal discharge. Then, it shows the common microscopic findings of normal, yeast, trichomonas, and bacterial vaginosis with clue cells.

The free, short version was produced by the US Navy as training for medical personnel in isolated settings. It was included on the Operational Obstetrics & Gynecology CD. It may be freely downloaded.

A longer version was produced by the Brookside Associates for civilian training. It is 5-minutes and is available for download. The same video but in high-resolution is available on CD or DVD.
 

Video Runtime 2:10 23 MB mpg Download Now Longer Version Runtime 5:00 Download High Resolution Runtime 5:00 Available on CD High Resolution Runtime 5:00 Available on DVD Operational Obstetrics & Gynecology CD

Wet Mount

"Place a small amount of vaginal discharge on a microscope slide."

"Add a drop of 10% potassium hydroxide."

"Mix the discharge with the KOH."

"Add a coverslip and repeat the process on another slide, using normal saline."

"Examine the slides under the microscope."

"10% KOH is mixed with vaginal discharge, dissolving the cell membranes."

"KOH does not dissolve the cell membrane of the yeast organisms."

"By focusing the microscope up and down, the branching yeast can be appreciated."

"After suspending some vaginal discharge in normal saline, a trichomonad can be seen moving next to a vaginal epithelial cell."

"Sometimes, the trichomonad is buried in cellular debris and only the violent motion of the flagella can be seen."

"A normal vaginal epithelial cell is transparent and has clear, distinct borders."

"In bacterial vaginosis, epithelial cells are studded with bacteria, causing smudging and indistinct borders."

"Focusing up and down through a vaginal epithelial cell, bacteria cover the exterior surface of the cell."

"This is a "clue cell," characterized by indistinct borders, studding with bacteria, and fewer than expected white blood cells."