Amsel Criteria (Bacterial Vaginosis)
Amsel criteria (Amsel 1983): thin homogeneous discharge, vaginal pH > 4.5, positive whiff test, and clue cells; ≥ 3 of 4 diagnoses bacterial vaginosis.
Open the calculator → Runs in your browser. Data leaves only if you deliberately send a problem report from the interactive tool.
Example
- Thin homogeneous discharge
- Yes
- Vaginal pH > 4.5
- Yes
- Positive whiff (amine) test
- Yes
- Clue cells > 20% on microscopy
- No
Result: Amsel criteria 3/4 — bacterial vaginosis (>= 3).
The tool opens with these values already filled in. Replace them with your own.
What the result means
- < 3
- Does not meet the clinical threshold.
- >= 3
- Clinical bacterial vaginosis. Thin gray-white discharge, pH > 4.5, positive whiff, clue cells > 20%. A criteria set, not a treatment order.
What you enter
- Thin homogeneous discharge
- Vaginal pH > 4.5
- Positive whiff (amine) test
- Clue cells > 20% on microscopy
How this is calculated
Amsel R, Totten PA, Spiegel CA, Chen KCS, Eschenbach D, Holmes KK. Nonspecific vaginitis: diagnostic criteria and microbial and epidemiologic associations. Am J Med. 1983;74(1):14-22. Read the source ↗
A reference and educational tool. Not medical, legal, or financial advice, and not a substitute for clinician judgment.