Urine Culture Test: Procedure, Preparation and Results

A urine culture test is used to know the yeast or bacteria which has resulted in Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs). Bacteria multiplication in urine needs immediate attention. Hence, your healthcare provider might suggest an antibiotic sensitivity test to know the antibiotic which can kill that bacteria. This article explores urine culture, explaining its significance, process, results reading, and more.

What is a Urine Culture Test?

The kidneys, ureters, urethra, and bladder are all the components of a urinary tract. A urine culture is a laboratory analysis to detect the quantity of bacteria in the urinary tract. Apart from diagnosing UTIs, it also helps determine the best form of treatment related to the urinary tract. With the identification of the micro-organism, appropriate sensitivity tests are done to specify the most effective antibiotic that would best combat the infection so found. In a nutshell, UTIs will only be efficient with a urine culture test.

Who Needs A Urine Culture?  

Here is a list of illustrative (not exhaustive) persons appropriate for the urine culture test:

• Those are dealing with underlying medical issues like kidney stones, diabetes, or a weak immune system.
• Patients with indwelling urinary catheters or other urinary devices are more susceptible to developing infections. 
• Those preparing for specific surgical procedures involving the urinary tract
• People with unexplained fever or flank pain may require a urine culture test as these symptoms indicate a kidney infection.
• Individuals with persistent or recurrent symptoms, even after treatment for a UTI 

What is the Difference Between a Urine Culture Test and Urinalysis?

A Urinalysis is a comprehensive diagnostic test that examines various aspects of urine to detect a wide range of conditions. A Urine Culture Test is a specific microbiological procedure used to identify and characterise the presence of bacteria or micro-organisms in urine samples. While urinalysis provides an overview, the urine culture test focuses on pathogen identification for targeted treatment.

What Happens During A Urine Culture?

Here is what all you need to know about the urine culture procedure:

• In a urine culture test, you first must provide a midstream portion of your urine into a sterile container for a clean catch urine sample. This helps avoid introducing bacteria originating in the genital region into the sample.
• After that, the urine sample is forwarded to the lab. Although the process may vary, however, the sample is usually platted on agar plates for bacteria to grow. These plates are then cultured for twenty-four to forty-eight hours in regulated conditions.
• After regulation, the plates are inspected for bacterial growth during incubation. For bacteria detection, the pathologists separate them using different methods, including biochemical tests and DNA analysis.
• After identifying the bacteria, these are tested with various antibodies and analysed for sensitivity.

The urine culture test time is usually 24-48 hours, and this urine culture data is related to bacterial types, CFU counts, and antibiotic sensitivity. This process allows healthcare providers to select the best antibiotics for treating the disease. Moreover, healthcare providers can also determine an appropriate treatment to eliminate the infection.

What are Other Ways to Collect Urine Samples?

In addition to clean catch, there are other ways to collect a urine sample for analysis.

A common substitute is the use of wet pads for the collection of urine, otherwise referred to as diapers or urine bags. The pads used contain adhesives that attach them to the genital area so as not to introduce urine into the urethra directly. This method is ideal for infants and people who cannot generate clean-catch samples.

Another way is to use a collection device, such as a hat container. In this setting, the collecting device receives the flow straight from the toilet seat. However, the container should be cleaned and sterilised before use.

How Long Does a Urine Culture Take?

It only takes a few minutes to give a clean urine sample. You need to pee in a cup provided in the laboratory.

Once the lab receives your urine sample, they will grow the culture in an incubator, which will take 24-48 hours. The incubator temperature will be set to around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. The urine culture test results are available in about a day or two.

What Does a Positive Urine Culture Test Result Mean?

If you are wondering how to read a urine culture report, it is essential to understand that the urine culture test normal range is between 10,000 and 1,00,000 colonies/ml. Anything higher falls under a positive report.

A positive urine culture denotes a urinary tract infection (UTI) issue. In most cases, it impacts various organs that constitute the urinary system, such as the bladder, renal, and urethral. Therefore, it is advisable to consult the healthcare provider immediately when the urine culture is positive. You can accordingly start with proper treatment, like taking an antibiotic, depending on what bacterial strain has infected your body.

What Does a Negative Urine Culture Test Mean?

Generally, when a urine culture test yields a negative result, it indicates the absence of bacterial growth in the urine specimen. The doctor may, however, request more tests to confirm the diagnosis. Such tests or typical tests may include the KFT (Kidney Function Test) and other routine urine tests.

Also, it is essential to mention that a negative urine culture does not exclude any other types of infections, like viral and fungal infections. Therefore, a doctor's visit always remains advisable for an exact diagnosis and competent therapy.

Conclusion

We hope you are clear about what is urine culture test. This technique entails obtaining a urine sample and exposing it in the lab to find the bacteria therein. A positive urine culture is usually interpreted depending on the existence or nonexistence of relevant signs. Nonetheless, a negative case does not exclude other infections.

Therefore, visiting a diagnostic centre like Metropolis is required to get accurate results. Metropolis has PAN-India branches, and you can give samples from the comfort of your home. This hassle-free diagnosis can make these tests a cakewalk. So, contact Metropolis Pathology Lab for your urine culture test today and get your report within 24 to 48 hours