It’s important to acknowledge here that actual sample contamination is also a real possibility, so minimizing this is also important. Results may also show insignificant levels of growth that are then often dismissed. This ‘contamination’ may actually be bacteria from inside the bladder that should be considered as part of the puzzle. That’s a lot of different bacteria that were assumed not to exist in the bladder!īecause UTI test techniques have always assumed urine is sterile, they have always been flawed.įor many, the consequences of this are UTI test results that list ‘contamination’ which implies the bacteria came from a source other than the bladder – possibly skin, vagina, or elsewhere. And in patients with UTIs, they have found even more. Studies have found hundreds of different bacteria in healthy bladders. The bladder has its own unique microbiome, and an ideal balance of microbes that your body does its best to maintain. It has become common knowledge that urine is sterile – it’s even become ingrained in ‘first aid’ advice, like “urinating on a wound is better than using non-sterile water.” But it turns out it’s not. Given the low accuracy of UTI test strips, if the results are negative but you have UTI symptoms, it would generally be recommended that you have a urine culture test done in a lab. Some studies have bluntly concluded that UTI test strips should be abandoned as a tool for the diagnosis of UTIs in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms. I was told I didn’t have an infection even though I’ve had UTIs before and I know exactly what they feel like.” My doctor used a UTI test strip in my urine sample and said everything on the test strip was normal. “My urine was visibly cloudy and it burned when I went to pee.
Studies show that UTI test strips may only be reliable about 30% of the time. Note that many bacteria do not create nitrites in your urine.īlood can appear in urine due to strenuous exercise, but generally, blood in the urine is taken to be a sign of infection, inflammation, disease, or injury to the urinary tract.Ī positive strip result for white blood cells in your urine indicates an infection in your urinary tract, or possibly, kidney disease. So if the strip is positive for nitrites, the conclusion is that you have a bacterial UTI.
Some bacteria that cause UTIs make an enzyme that changes urinary nitrates into nitrites. Urobilinogen is a by-product of Bilirubin production and may indicate issues with the liver, among other health issues. Ketones in the urine can also be caused by diabetes, but can also be a result of a state of ketosis, where the body burns fat instead of sugar for fuel.īilirubin in the urine may be an early indicator of liver damage, however, this indicator is known to be highly inaccurate. The most common cause of sugar in the urine is diabetes, but it can also indicate other rare health conditions. Protein in the urine (proteinuria) can indicate kidney disease or other health issues, but it can also be caused by: If your urine pH is outside the normal range of 5-7, there could be an issue, or your urine pH may have been temporarily altered by something you ate or drank. What UTI Strip Test Indicators Mean Indicator Home UTI test strips often contain only two of the indicators (the little colored boxes) listed below. You’ve probably seen a UTI test strip if you’ve ever been to a doctor for a suspected UTI, but you can also buy them online or over the counter, to use at home. Studies have shown these test strips are unreliable, and cannot be used to rule out infection. UTI test strips are commonly used as an initial indicator for UTI. Provide the email address at which you’d like to receive the download, at the end of this article.
INVISIBLE EMMIE QUIZ DOWNLOAD
We’ve also created a free download that provides a breakdown of the different types of testing. Knowing the issues with both of these tests will arm you with the right questions to ask if you feel like your negative results are wrong. Then we’ll explain some of the problems with urine culturing done at a lab.
So why don’t the standard UTI test methods provide the answers you need?įirst, let’s take a quick look at those urine test strips you can use at home or at the doctor’s office. If your UTI treatment failed the first time, it is crucial to find out why as soon as possible, in order to break the cycle of recurrence before it escalates. The more UTIs you have, the more likely you are to get another. In this 26-44%, it is likely the initial treatment failed.Įvidence suggests that with each recurrence of UTI, another recurrence becomes more likely. Statistics show that 26-44% of females will experience a recurrence of their first UTI. Patients and doctors are very competent at recognizing the symptoms of a UTI, but there are issues with this approach. In reality, antibiotics are very often prescribed without any form of UTI test.
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