EBSCO Health

Print PageSend to a Friend
Health Library Home>Article

Urine Culture

What Is a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)?

A UTI is caused by bacteria in the urinary tract. The bacteria grow and spread. The infection can happen in any part of the tract.

Reason for the Test

A urine culture tests for bacteria that cause UTIs. The test may be needed if:

  • A person has symptoms of a UTI or is at risk for one
  • UTI treatment is not working
  • A person has conditions that make UTIs difficult to treat

Type of Sample Taken

A urine sample will be collected.

Prior to Collecting the Sample

Nothing needs to be done beforehand.

During the Sample Collection

You will be given a container with a lid and special wipes. You will need to wipe the area where you pass urine. Some urine should pass into the toilet first. The container is then placed under the urine stream to catch the remaining urine. The container is then closed and returned to the care team.

If you are in the hospital and have a catheter, the urine sample will be taken from the bag attached to your catheter.

Results

Test results may be ready in a few days. It depends on the lab. The results may show:

  • No bacteria—there is no sign of a UTI
  • A single type of bacteria—there is probably a UTI
  • Smaller numbers of different types of bacteria—there may be a UTI or the sample was contaminated

Depending on the results, the doctor may want to do another urine test.

Talk to your doctor about your test results. A test may point to an illness that you do not have. It can also miss an illness that you may have. The doctor will check your symptoms and all test results before making a diagnosis.

REFERENCES:

Uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) (pyelonephritis and cystitis). EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/uncomplicated-urinary-tract-infection-uti-pyelonephritis-and-cystitis Accessed April 15, 2021.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) in children. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/urinary-tract-infection-uti-in-children Accessed April 15, 2021.

Urine culture. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/lab-monograph/urine-culture Accessed April 15, 2021.

Urine culture. Lab Tests Online—American Association for Clinical Chemistry website. Available at: https://labtestsonline.org/tests/urine-culture. Accessed April 15, 2021.

Last reviewed March 2021 by David L. Horn, MD, FACP