What it measures
A urine sample is grown in the lab to see whether bacteria are present and in what numbers. If a bacterium grows, the lab tests which antibiotics act on it.
Why people test it
- Tested when a urine infection is suspected, for example with stinging, passing urine often or cloudy urine.
- Used when urine infections keep coming back, or do not clear after antibiotics.
- Checked in pregnancy, as a urine infection may cause no symptoms.
Typical range
Reported as no growth, mixed growth (often a sign the sample was contaminated), or by naming a bacterium and the antibiotics it is sensitive or resistant to. Methods vary between labs, and your report shows how the lab reads the result.
Finger-prick or vein?
A midstream urine sample in a sterile pot, not blood. Offered as a kit only.