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Hang on, help is on the way!
The hallmark symptom of a urinary tract infection, or UTI, is painful or burning urination. A home test kit can quickly tell you if a UTI is present, in which case you should seek the help of your healthcare professional immediately. Extremely effective treatment is available by prescription, and ignoring a UTI can lead to seriously consequences. UTIs tend to be more frequent among women, but anyone can come down with one, even children. And it's nothing to be embarrassed about. A UTI results when unwelcome bacteria enter your urinary tract and cause an infection.
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How Do You Know if You Have a UTI?
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are very common among all age groups and can affect both men and women. When microorganisms capable of causing infection exist in any part of the urinary tract, you can develop a urinary tract infection.
Bacteria can come from anywhere. Bacteria present in feces and even holding your urine for long amounts of time can cause a bacterial infection. Sexual activity can increase the chances that your own or someone else's bacteria can contaminate your urinary tract.
Young children are also prone to urinary tract infections! Improper wiping, bed-wetting, and serious kidney or bladder conditions can all produce UTIs in children. It is best to seek immediate attention if you suspect that your child has a urinary tract infection.
The degree to which you may display symptoms will vary and in fact many people experience very few symptoms at all. If you do exhibit some of these symptoms, though, consult a doctor.
- painful urination
- burning or itching urination
- incontinence (inability to control urination)
- cloudy urine
- blood in the urine (slightly pink to completely red)
- odd smell to urine
- chills
- nausea
- vomiting
- pain in the lower abdominal area
- lower back pain
- pain in the genital area
What Does an At-Home UTI Test Tell You?
A urinary tract infection at-home test helps you determine whether or not you have a urinary tract infection (UTI) but it in no way treats the infection. It will detect the presence of bacteria in your urine, but for an accurate diagnosis you will need to make a trip to your doctor. Only a qualified healthcare provider is capable of treating a UTI. Do not attempt to treat a UTI by yourself.
At-home UTI test kits require that you read the color of the strip. If you are visually impaired or color-blind and question your ability to decipher results, ask someone to read the results for you or go to your healthcare provider for a test.
Finding a UTI Test
- UTI at-home detection kits are available at most pharmacies, but there are not many brands available on the market so pricing is not very competitive.
- Most kits provide enough material for more than one test.
- The accuracy of at-home UTI detection kits varies according to the method through which the test detects the presence of bacteria.
- Look for kits that measure "catalase," an indicator that signals the presence of bacteria and white blood cells. The presence of white blood cells in your urine is a sign of your body's immune system's attempt to fight infection. These tests have been shown to be more accurate and reliable than those that just test for the presence of nitrates (a by-product of bacteria).
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Testing for Urinary Tract Infections
- Urinary tract infection test kits help you determine whether or not you have an infection in your urinary tract.
- At-home test kits do not treat infection -- they merely confirm or deny the presence of bacteria in your urine.
- You may fail to test positive for bacteria in your urine and still have a urinary tract infection.
- If you test negative yet still show symptoms, seek the attention of your healthcare provider immediately.
How Does a Urinary Tract Infection Test Work?
- Urinary tract infection test kits test for the large presence of bacteria in your urine through a variety of ways.
- Why does the test result in a positive only when there are large levels of bacteria in the urine? When collecting urine samples from women, it is almost impossible for the urine to be collected without some contamination from bacteria normally present in the vagina.
- While at-home tests cannot give you an exact number, generally more than 100,000 bacteria colonies per cubic centimeter of urine is suggestive of a urinary tract infection.
- Test strips are coated with chemicals that change color when they come into contact with either catalase or nitrates.
- To achieve a change of color noticeable to the human eye, there must be a significant amount of either catalase or nitrates, so you need not worry about minimal contamination by vaginal bacteria or other bacteria naturally occurring in the genital area
How Does an At-home Urinary Tract Infection Test Differ From One at the Doctor's Office?
- A urine cytology, done by a cytopathologist in a clinical lab, is a more in-depth analysis of all the debris in the urine than an at-home urinary tract infection test. A cytology tests for the actual bacteria in the urine rather than its by-products. The urine is centrifuged (spun) or filtered to obtain a concentrated sample of debris. The concentrated sample is then examined by a powerful microscope by the cytopathologist.
Interactions That May Affect Test Results
- There are no known drugs or external factors that can affect the results of a test that measures for the presence of high levels of catalase.
- The following may cause false negative results in tests that test for the presence of high levels of nitrates:
- Ingestion of large quantities of vitamin C or fruits that contain vitamin C, dairy products, or medications that discolor urine.
- Use of antibiotics. Do not discontinue use of antibiotics without consulting a physician.
- Vegetarian diets may result in very low natural levels of nitrates in the urine. A portion of the nitrates originating from bacteria may be counted as naturally occurring, lowering overall nitrate count.
Collecting Urine
- Collecting urine for testing, particularly for women, is filled with hidden pitfalls that can affect the overall accuracy of the UTI test. Please follow directions provided by the manufacturer carefully!
- Your bladder should be full.
- Urine should have stayed within the bladder for four to six hours.
- For this reason, using your first morning's urine gives you the best sample.
- Most kits come with a container with which you can collect your urine.
- If you want to use another container make sure it is well-rinsed, clean, and dry. Do not use waxed cups and make sure there is no soap residue on the container. Wax and soap can interfere with the strip's ability to react with the contents of your urine.
- Women, your labia (the outer "lips" of your vaginal opening) should be clean and separated.
- Make sure the urinary stream does not run over your genitals as you void.
- Do not collect the first urine that comes out as it is most likely to be contaminated with vaginal bacteria.
- Collect from the middle to end portion of the urine stream.
- You may also place the urine dipstick directly into the mid to end portion of your urine stream.
- If cannot test immediately, but want to collect a sample ahead of time, you must refrigerate your urine immediately.
- Before testing refrigerated urine it must be brought back to room temperature.
- Wait the allotted amount of time before making a reading.
- Kits provide more than one dipstick. It is wise to test yourself more than once.
- Drink a large glass of water and wait six hours until you perform a retest.
If You Test Positive, Seek the Attention of Your Healthcare Provider Immediately
- You might have an infection that requires beginning treatment with prescription drugs.
If You Test Negative but Are Still Experiencing Discomfort, Consider the Following
- Did the urine remain in your bladder for a minimum of four to six hours? If not, you can produce a false negative.
- Did you drink excessive amounts of fluids before your test? This can dilute your urine and produce a false negative.
- Are you taking any medications that discolor your urine? This can make strips difficult to read.
- Have you recently had vigorous sex or had sex for the first time or the first time in a long time? The friction of sex on your bladder can irritate it and cause it to bleed or produce uncomfortable urination.
Prevention
- As a practice, drink lots of distilled or purified water.
- Try to avoid holding urine in your bladder for long periods of time. Urinate when you have the urge and try to adopt the practice of urinating immediately after sex.
- Wipe front to back to avoid contaminating your urinary tract with feces.
- Drink cranberry juice. Its acidity can create an environment in your urinary tract that is inhospitable to bacteria.
- Tobacco and alcohol can increase your chances of infection.
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Lots of People Are at Risk for Urinary Tract Infections
- Children who are bedwetting or may be wiping improperly
- Elderly individuals who are dehydrated
- Elderly individuals who have urinary and/or especially fecal incontinence
- Sexually active men and women
- Individuals who engage in anal sex
- Women who are having sex for the first time or for the first time in a long time
Seek Medical Attention
- If you receive a positive result, seek the attention of your healthcare provider immediately.
- A urinary tract infection may be indicative of a serious problem. Do not take it lightly!
- If you suspect your child has a urinary tract infection, seek the attention of your healthcare provider immediately!
- If you receive a negative result yet still show symptoms, ignore the test. Seek the attention of your healthcare provider immediately.
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Websites, Organizations & Manufacturers
Sources & Further Reading
Books
- 1. American Medical Association.The American Medical Association: Guide to your family's symptoms. Washington, D.C.: American Pharmaceutical Association 1992.
- 2. Fauci, Anthony S. et al. Eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 14th ed. New York: MacGraw Hill 1998.
- 3. Segen, Joseph, and Joseph Stauffer.The Patient's Guide to Medical Tests: Everything you need to know about the tests your doctor prescribes. New York: Facts on File 1998.
- 4. Zaret, Barry L. Et al. The Yale University School of Medicine Patient's Guide to Medical Tests. New York: Houghton Mifflin 1997.
Find more books on health and wellness at  barnesandnoble.com.
Articles
- 1. MacDonald, Sue."Testing your health at home". Gannett News Service; 8/8/1996.
- 2. Slovut, Gordon."The pros and cons of home medical tests". Star Tribune; 7/17/1997.
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