From which part of the vagina and cervix should a specimen be collected for a wet mount?

Wet Mount Collection Site

Collect the wet mount specimen from the pooled vaginal secretions in the vagina, NOT from the cervix. 1

Collection Technique

The specimen should be obtained during speculum examination using the following approach:

• Sample from pooled vaginal secretions using a cotton swab 1
• The vaginal pool naturally collects in the posterior fornix and lower vaginal areas
• Do NOT sample from the cervix itself—the cervix is sampled separately for Pap smears or STI testing using different collection devices 1

Specific Anatomic Considerations

While guidelines consistently specify "pooled vaginal secretions," research provides additional nuance about optimal sampling sites 2:

• The lower third of the vagina demonstrated highest sensitivity for detecting Candida (60%) and bacterial vaginosis (92%)
• The anterior fornix performed better for cytolytic vaginosis (75% sensitivity)
• For maximum diagnostic yield, consider collecting from two sites: the anterior fornix AND the lower third of the vagina 2

Processing the Sample

Once collected, the vaginal swab can be processed in two ways 1:

1. Place the swab in a tube with 1 mL normal saline, then prepare a glass slide for microscopic examination
2. Directly smear the slide with the swab, then add a drop of saline or potassium hydroxide

Critical timing: Read the wet mount immediately after completing the pelvic examination to maximize detection of motile trichomonads, which lose viability quickly 1, 3

Common Pitfall to Avoid

Do not confuse wet mount collection (vaginal pool) with cervical cytology collection (Pap smear), which uses a spatula and cytobrush to sample the ectocervix and endocervix 1. These are distinct specimens for different diagnostic purposes.