If suspect a urinary tract infection, should examine their urine sample for any pus, red blood cells or bacteria present in the urine.
UTI diagnosing test
Dipstick tests, available over the counter, are quite reliable in making a reasonable diagnosis of UTIs with symptoms. Dipstick tests may also be useful for identifying UTIs in children and infants. The test uses a chemical on a stick that when dipped in urine reacts to nitrites, substances released by many of the bacteria that cause UTIs. A positive test result often eliminates the need for urine cultures; an expensive test used to detect bacteria. A negative dipstick test helps to avoid unnecessary antibiotics. These tests are not entirely accurate; however, and studies report that they may miss up to 25% of actual UTIs. If having persistent UTI symptoms, but the dipstick test is negative, should check with the doctor for more accurate tests.
A clean urine specimen is required to diagnose a urinary tract infection (UTI). Collect the urine sample after cleaning the area around the urethral opening to prevent bacteria in the genital area from contaminating the sample.
Take Urinalysis to determine the level of white blood cells (WBC) that destroy harmful bacteria (leukocytes) in the urine. A large number of WBC may indicate bacterial infection.
Sometime, you need urine culture to reveal whether have an infection; assess the type of bacteria to determine the treatment. Although no simple test can differentiate between an upper and lower urinary tract infection, the presence of fever and flank pain, indicate that the infection likely involves the kidneys.
Even if bacteria are present in the culture, a diagnosis of UTI depends on symptoms and gender:
- Presence of at least 100,000 bacteria per milliliter of urine usually provides the evidence of infection in women with symptoms.
- A count of 100,000 bacteria per milliliter in a woman without symptoms indicates asymptomatic bacteriuria. The decision to treat or not depends on the woman's risk factors for complications.
- For young women with symptoms, a diagnosis of infection can reasonably be made with counts as low as 1,000 bacteria per milliliter.
- Men have an infection with a count of only 1,000 bacteria per milliliter.