Which parameters are measured in the urinary tract infection test?

It's a simple test that can be performed at home and provides immediate results for the detection of an ongoing urinary tract infection. To detect a possible urinary tract infection, the test looks for leukocytes, nitrate, and blood in the urine sample. The test result is indicated by visual comparison with a color scale included in the package, so this test does not need to be sent to a lab for analysis.

Exploring the connection between the intestine and the urinary tract

If you suffer from recurring urinary tract infections, understanding your gut health can be a crucial step toward controlling and potentially reducing future infections. The gut microbiome plays an important role in overall health and immunity, and if imbalanced, can indirectly contribute to urinary tract infections. OurGut Microbiome Test Smalloffers insights into your intestinal flora and helps you gain a more comprehensive understanding of your body's interconnected systems.

About the urinary system

Urinary tract infections are a serious health problem that affects millions of people every year. Normal urine is free of bacteria, viruses, and fungi and contains fluid, salts, and waste products. A urinary tract infection occurs when microorganisms, usually bacteria from the gastrointestinal tract, attach themselves to the opening of the ureter and multiply there. In most cases, the bacteria multiply first in the urethra.

An infection that is limited to the urethra is called urethritis.

An infection limited to the urethra is called urethritis. From there, the bacteria often migrate to the bladder and cause a urinary tract infection called cystitis. The bacteria can migrate up the ureters and infect the kidneys if the infection is not treated promptly. This infection is called pyelonephritis.

Common symptoms of a lower urinary tract infection

back pain

• Blood in the urine
• Cloudy urine
• Inability to urinate despite the urge to urinate
• Fever
• Frequent urge to urinate
• General malaise
• Painful urination

Common symptoms of an upper urinary tract infection

• chills
• High fever
• Pain under the ribs
• Nausea
• Nausea

storage

Store test strips at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees Celsius (59 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit). Do not refrigerate or freeze test strips. Do not expose test strips to moisture, heat, or light before use. Use the test strip immediately after opening the foil pouch.

How does the urinary tract infection test work?

First, collect the urine in a glass or cup. It's best to do the test in the morning after showering, as first-morning urine is the best urine sample. Remove a test strip from the packaging and hold it to the completely white end without the colored squares. Dip the colored part of the test strip into the urine in the glass for a maximum of one second. Remove the test strip and gently tap it against the rim of the glass to remove any excess urine. Hold the test strip horizontally for 30-60 seconds to allow the reaction to take place. Read your result by comparing the reaction colors on the test strip with the color chart in the package.

Test limits

Influence of abnormal urine color on the test:Certain medications can alter urine color and affect the color development on the test strip. This may result in masking the color development on the reagent pad or a false-positive reaction. If in doubt, repeat the test after discontinuing the medication.

Leukocytes:The test result does not always correspond to the number of leukocytes visible under the microscope. Positive results can be caused by factors such as high humidity, high temperature, and vial integrity. Samples from women can sometimes yield positive results if they are contaminated by vaginal secretions.

Nitrite:The development of a uniform pink color should be considered positive. However, pink spots or edges should be ignored. The color intensity does not necessarily indicate the number of bacteria present. The test specifically detects nitrite-producing bacteria. However, there are also bacteria that do not produce nitrite. Therefore, a negative result does not mean that a urinary tract infection is not present.

Blood:If bacteria are present in the urine, a false-positive result can sometimes occur. Ascorbic acid or proteins can reduce the reactivity of the blood test. Strong oxidizing agents such as hypochlorite can cause a false-positive result. The urine of menstruating women often, but not always, produces positive results.