In Virginia, a trichomoniasis blood test is available. Rapid nucleic acid and antigen probe assays are used in the blood testing. They deliver outcomes in minutes. They may not, however, be as accurate as a discharge test. Traditionally, a sample of the discharge is taken by the doctor. This allows for visual inspection of the cells under the microscope. The doctor can then report whether or not there are any parasites present. There are several different types of blood tests used to diagnose HIV infection. These include ELISAs, which measure the amount of antibodies produced by the body in response to the virus; Western blots, which look at how much protein is made by the virus over time; and PCR tests, which check for DNA from the virus itself. Each of these tests has advantages and disadvantages, so which one is chosen depends on what information is needed from the test and how quickly results are required. A trichomoniasis blood test is not recommended for people who live with the virus because it does not give an indication of whether or not you have the parasite. It only tells doctors whether or not you have been exposed to the parasite. For people who do not know they are infected, this information is useful because it can alert them to take precautionary measures to prevent spreading the infection. People who do know they are infected will need to see their doctor if they test positive for trichomoniasis in the blood work.