What Does Evvy's PCR Panel Test For?

If you've ordered an Evvy test, you're already getting the world's most comprehensive at-home vaginal microbiome test with the Evvy Vaginal Health Test, which screens for 700+ bacteria and fungi in the vaginal microbiome.

But if you’re symptomatic, interested in STI testing, or looking for an expedited turnaround for preliminary results, we recommend adding our Expanded PCR Panel to your Evvy test.

The world of women's health diagnostics can feel confusing, and with so many options out there, it’s good to know which tests will give you more bang for your buck — ie. thorough, accurate results. Below is everything you need to know about Evvy’s Vaginal Health Test + Expanded PCR Panel. 

What does Evvy’s PCR panel test for?

Our Expanded PCR Panel tests for: 

Four STIs: 

• Chlamydia
• Gonorrhea
• Trichomoniasis
• Mycoplasma genitalium

10 antibiotic resistances: 

• Aminoglycoside
• Bactrim
• Beta-lactam
• Carbapenem
• Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase CTX-M
• Macrolide
• Methicillin
• Quinolone
• Tetracycline
• Vancomycin

11 common microbes: 

• Candida albicans 
• Gardnerella vaginalis 
• Lactobacillus crispatus
• Lactobacillus gasseri
• Mobiluncus curtisii
• Mobiluncus mulieris
• Mycoplasma hominis
• Prevotella bivia
• Streptococcus agalactiae (group B)
• Ureaplasma parvum
• Ureaplasma urealyticum. 
• Note: These microbes are also tested for via metagenomics in our full vaginal microbiome test, but the Expanded PCR Panel add-on tests for them via PCR with a 1-3 day turnaround.

Testing for Ureaplasma and Mycoplasma with Evvy

Research has shown that Mollicutes (such as Ureaplasma or Mycoplasma) are often present in the vaginal flora of healthy women in very low amounts without causing issues. 

If you’re interested in testing for Mollicutes, please add on our Expanded PCR Panel to your Vaginal Health Test, which is designed to detect these bacteria at lower levels. Also, since Mycoplasma genitalium is considered a reportable STI, it’s only tested for via our Expanded PCR Panel.

How is the Expanded PCR Panel different from Evvy’s vaginal microbiome test?

‍The Evvy Vaginal Health Test uses a technology called metagenomics to test for all bacteria and fungi in the vaginal microbiome (excluding STIs). The Expanded PCR Panel tests for 11 of the most common of these microbes with a technology called PCR (​polymerase chain reaction), which adds STI and antibiotic resistance testing, as well as returns preliminary PCR results within 1-3 days.

Note that we will retest for these 11 microbes again when we run our Vaginal Health Test.

If you choose to add the Expanded PCR Panel, your final results will combine the outputs of all tests to give you the most comprehensive picture of your microbiome.‍

Why PCR?‍

Metagenomics is the most thorough technology when it comes to testing the vaginal microbiome. However, when you visit the doctor's office, they often use PCR testing. Why is that?

PCR looks for specific genetic primers and is really good at confirming the presence of particular microbes (like specific STIs). It's super quick too, as it focuses on a limited number of primers instead of sequencing all bacteria and fungi like metagenomics does. 

PCR also gives info on microbial load, which can help determine if anything in your microbiome is present in higher or lower amounts than usual. This can be especially useful for conditions like cytolytic vaginosis (CV), bacterial vaginosis (BV), and yeast infections.

Will I need to take more than one swab to get Expanded PCR Panel results?‍

No! The Expanded PCR Panel is a set of three additional tests that can be run on your same sample, so your Evvy test will look and function the same way it always has: as one easy, at-home swab.

FAQ

Does Evvy test for Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma?

Yes, our Vaginal Health Test tests for Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma parvum, and Ureaplasma urealyticum. Our Expanded PCR Panel also tests for Mycoplasma genitalium. 

That said, Research has shown that Mollicutes (such as Ureaplasma or Mycoplasma) are often present in the vaginal flora of healthy women in very low amounts without causing issues. 

If you’re interested in testing for Mollicutes, please add on our Expanded PCR Panel to your Vaginal Health Test, which is designed to detect these bacteria at lower levels. Also, since Mycoplasma genitalium is considered a reportable STI, it’s only tested for via our Expanded PCR Panel.

Are Evvy tests accurate?

Yes. Evvy tests use advanced sequencing techniques, such as next-generation sequencing (NGS), to identify and quantify the microbial species present in your vaginal flora. But how accurate a test is depends on what you're testing for. Metagenomics is the most accurate technology for testing the vaginal microbiome. It's great at accurately identifying all bacteria and fungi present, and it can even uncover new microbes that might be missed by traditional tests. If you're interested in checking your entire vaginal flora, metagenomics is the way to go. But if you're specifically looking for a single bacteria, PCR is a good choice. With Evvy's Expanded PCR Panel, you can benefit from the best of both worlds by combining PCR and metagenomics, without having to choose.

Does Evvy test for STIs?

Yes, Evvy’s Expanded PCR Panel test for four of the most common STIs, including gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, and Mycoplasma genitalium.