What will a urine culture test for

Tell your doctor if you have taken antibiotic medicine recently. Be sure your doctor knows about all medicines, herbs, vitamins, and supplements you are taking. This includes medicines that don't need a prescription and any illegal drugs you may use. Search Encyclopedia. Urine Culture Does this test have other names?

Why do I need this test? You may need this test if you have symptoms of a UTI. These include: Fever and chills Burning pain when urinating Pain in the back or lower belly Frequent or urgent need to urinate Cloudy or smelly urine What other tests might I have along with this test?

What do my test results mean? How is this test done? This test requires a "clean-catch" urine sample. To collect this type of sample: Carefully wash and dry your hands before removing the cap of the specimen container. You will need to collect a urine sample. You will need to drink enough fluids and avoid urinating so that you will be able to collect a urine sample. The first urine of the day is best because bacterial levels will be higher.

Avoid urinating just before having this test. You will be asked to collect a clean-catch midstream urine sample for testing. Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse call line if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to keep a list of the medicines you take.

Ask your doctor when you can expect to have your test results. Adapted with permission from copyrighted materials from Healthwise, Incorporated Healthwise. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor.

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Updated visitor guidelines. You are here Home » Urine Culture. Top of the page. Test Overview A urine culture is a test to find germs such as bacteria in the urine that can cause an infection. Why It Is Done A urine culture may be done to find out if symptoms like pain or burning when urinating are from a urinary tract infection UTI. How To Prepare You will need to collect a urine sample. How It Is Done You may be asked to collect a clean-catch midstream urine sample for testing. Clean-catch midstream urine collection This method helps protect the urine sample from germs that are normally found on the penis or vagina.

Wash your hands before you collect the urine. If the collection cup has a lid, remove it carefully. Set the lid down with the inner surface up. Don't touch the inside of the cup with your fingers. Clean the area around your genitals.

A man should retract his foreskin, if he has one, and clean the head of his penis with medicated towelettes or swabs. A woman should spread open the genital folds of skin with one hand. Then she can use her other hand to clean the area around the urethra with medicated towelettes or swabs. She should wipe the area from front to back so bacteria from the anus isn't wiped across the urethra.

Start to urinate into the toilet or urinal. A woman should hold apart the genital folds of skin while she urinates. After the urine has flowed for several seconds, place the collection cup into the urine stream.

Collect about 2 fl oz 59 mL of urine without stopping the flow of urine. Move the cup out the urine stream. Don't touch the rim of the cup to your genital area. Don't get toilet paper, pubic hair, stool feces , menstrual blood, or anything else in the urine sample.