Urine Culture Test

What is Urine Culture and Sensitivity test? 

A cultured urine test can detect the presence of pathogens or harmful microbes in your urine. These pathogens that cause urinary tract infections (UTIs) can enter the urinary tract system through the urethra, where they can multiply and give rise to the infection. The most common symptoms of UTI are pain while urinating, fever, and an urge to urinate frequently. Your doctor may recommend this test if they suspect a UTI.

What are the other names for the Urine Culture and Sensitivity test? 

The other names are Urine C/S, Culture & Sensitivity-Urine, and Urine Culture.

What test parameters are included in the Urine Culture and Sensitivity test?

There is only one parameter.

What does a Urine Culture and Sensitivity test measure? 

The urine culture and sensitivity tests are performed to detect and diagnose a micro-bacterial infection of the urinary tract. These metabolic processes in the body produce the products called metabolites that are present in the blood. Some of them are utilised by cells, while others are waste products that are filtered out of the blood by the kidneys in the form of urine. 

Urine is produced by the kidneys and it passes through the ureters into the urinary bladder where it is stored until the urinary bladder is full. Once the urinary bladder is full, it releases the urine through another tube called the urethra to the outside of the body. This pathway followed by the kidneys is called the urinary tract. This urinary tract might be infected by some microorganisms which cause various conditions. The urine is normally sterile, but if a urinary tract infection occurs, the pathogenic microorganism can be found in the urine. A urine sample is then collected and cultured to detect if there is any such infection and to identify the microorganism causing it.

The collected urine sample is placed on an agar medium (nutrient solution mixed with agarose gel) and incubated at a 37० C temperature for 24 to 48 hours. If anything is present, this allows the microorganisms to grow in the sample. Growing microorganisms from the different types of colonies on the agar are studied further in a laboratory to determine the exact microbe causing the UTI.

Once the microorganism is identified, an antibiotic susceptibility test is performed to guide the treatment for UTI. This may be done in two ways. The conventional method involves the use of small filter paper discs with antibiotics of known concentration and placing them on an agar plate where the pathogen is cultured. This antibiotic creates a small circular area around the discs where the microorganisms do not form colonies. The radius of this zone is measured on the scale to estimate the efficiency and strength of that antibiotic in treating UTIs. The other method also involves using an automated machine to detect the sensitivity pattern to find out which antibiotic can be used to treat the infection.

What’s the normal range? 

The culture yields no growth after 48 hours of incubation.

Who should get a Urine Culture and Sensitivity test? 

A urine culture and sensitivity can be ordered when you have any signs and symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI) and/or the results of a urinalysis show that you may have a UTI.

Usually, the signs and symptoms of a UTI include:

• Strong and frequent urge to urinate, even when you have just gone and there is little urine voided

• Pain and/or a burning sensation during urination

• Cloudy, strong-smelling urine

• Lower back pain

You can also have pressure in the lower abdomen and small amounts of blood in the urine. If  UTI is more severe and/or has spread into the kidneys, this can also cause flank pain, high fever, shaking, chills, nausea, or vomiting.

Sometimes, antibiotics might be prescribed without performing a urine culture for young women who have signs and symptoms of a UTI and those who have an uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection. If there is any suspicion of a complicated infection or symptoms that do not respond to the initial treatment, then a culture test for the urine is recommended.

Pregnant women who do not have any symptoms are suggested to be screened with a urine culture early in their pregnancy (e.g., during the second trimester) or during the first prenatal visit for bacteria in their urine.

Are preparations needed for the  Urine Culture and Sensitivity test?

The urine sample must preferably be the midstream urine (part of urine that comes after the first and before the last stream). Collect the urine sample in a sealed, sterile container provided by our sample collection professional. Please make sure that the container doesn't come in contact with your skin.