Urine Culture Test in Vizag
Urine is an excretory bodily fluid, a byproduct of blood. It is filtered out by the kidneys, stored in the urinary bladder, and flushed out of the body through the urethra. Despite urine being the accumulation of waste products from blood, metabolism, toxins and many more, it is sterile. However, it gets contaminated when a pathogen enters the urethra, or bladder, infecting the urinary tract. A urine culture test is performed for diagnosing urinary tract infection (UTI).
If you are looking for a medical centre that conducts Urine Culture Tests in Vizag, look no further. Vijaya Medical Centre is a NABL-accredited laboratory well-resourced with the latest technologies and highly skilled technicians. At Vijay Medical Centre, you can get reliable and accurate culture test report at standard TAT (turnaround time).
What is a Urine Culture Test?
A Urine Culture Test is a laboratory test conducted on a patient’s urine. This test is conducted for tracing the presence of pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. In rare cases, viruses are also known to cause UTI (especially in immunocompromised patients).
Why You Should Get a Urine Culture Test?
A Urine Culture Test is recommended by a doctor for the following reasons:
- Diagnosis of urinary tract infection: The test allows to identify the causative agent of UTI.
- Determining Treatment Plan: The test helps prescribe an effective and best treatment plan based on the type and strain of the causative agent.
- Prevent and control further infection: Doctors can identify the cause of UTI and guide patients on how to prevent reinfection after studying the patient’s urine culture test report.
Signs and Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infection
The common signs and symptoms of urinary tract infection are as follows:
- Frequent Urination
- Pain or burning sensation while urinating
- Your urine might appear to be cloudy or foul-smelling.
- Fever, cramping or shivering in extreme cases.
Potential UTI-causing causative agents are Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. E. coli is responsible for causing 80% of UTIs.
Conditions Diagnosed by Urine Culture Test
A Urine Culture Test in Vizag can help diagnose the following conditions:
- Urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) in pregnant women
- Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CA-UTI)
- Catheter-associated asymptomatic bacteriuria (CA-ASB).
Procedure for Urine Culture Test
A Urine Culture Test Procedure involves the following:
1. Collection of urine sample: Wash your hands first. Next, you are required to pass the first few drops of urine in the toilet and then stop and continue to collect about 30–60ml of your midstream urine in the sterile container provided. Finish urinating into the toilet.
For collection of urine samples through the catheter, help from a healthcare worker is needed.
2. Urine Culture and Sensitivity Test: The test is performed using the following steps:
- A sterile swab is dipped into the urine sample and streaked onto the petri dish containing CLED agar.
- The petri dish is then incubated in a BOD incubator for 1-2 days.
- After 1-2 days, the dish is observed for any microbial growth. It is visible with naked eyes and appears as round colonial cells.
- A small amount of this colonial growth is then picked up and streaked onto biochemical slants and incubated for 18–24 hours.
- The colour, texture, appearance, colony size, odor and change in colour of agar help in the identification of the type and strain of the microorganism. Once the microorganism is identified, an antibiotic sensitivity test is performed to check for antibiotic resistance and sensitivity of the causative agent.
- Again, some amount of bacterial colony is picked up from the urine sample and directly loaded into Vitek 2 instrument which works on fluorescent based technology to identify bacteria and tests their susceptibility to antibiotics. Alternatively it can also be streaked across Mueller Hinton Agar (MHA).
- After streaking is complete, antibiotic sensitivity plates or discs are placed at uniform distance and incubated for 16 hours. These plates appear to be small paper discs.
- Now, the susceptible bacteria appear with a clear halo zone. Whereas, resistant bacteria will not have any clear zone.
The findings are reported in the lab test results mentioned as the name of the causative agent along with the susceptibility and resistance of bacteria against the used antibiotics.
Understanding Urine Test Reports: A urine culture test report reads as “positive” or “negative.” A negative culture test result means there is no growth of any pathogenic microorganism. A “positive” culture test means the patient is infected with pathogenic microorganisms. The test report further states the type and strain of microorganism, along with its resistance and susceptibility.
Cost of Urine Culture Test in Vizag
Urine Culture Test Cost in Vizag depends on:
- The location and reputation of the diagnostic laboratory you visit
- Selection of at-home collection of urine samples.
To make urine tract infection diagnosis accessible to all, we offer competitive Urine Culture Test Prices. You can get your precise, affordable urine culture test cost by scheduling a consultation at Vijaya Medical Centre.
Choosing the Right Diagnostic Lab in Vizag
A urine culture test should be a part of routine checkups to prevent or treat any potential risk of urinary tract infections, and for that, you need to choose the right diagnostic lab. Vijaya Medical Centre in Vizag is NABL-accredited and one of the topmost diagnostic centres with state-of-the-art technology and dynamic staff. You can rely on us for all your diagnostic needs.
Experts at Vijaya Medical Centre ensure patients get accurate, timely urine culture test results and pay the reasonable price as per defined standards.
Benefits of Getting Tested Locally
Choosing at-home urine sample collection at Vijaya Medical Centre for a urine culture test can be a very convenient and affordable option for you. You can get timely test reports with accuracy while sitting at home. For old and pediatric patients who are not able to walk down to the centre for sample collection, they enjoy the benefits of getting tested locally at Vijaya Medical Centre.
FAQs on Urine Culture Test
When should I take the test?
A urine culture test is generally ordered by a doctor if one shows signs of kidney or lower urinary tract infection. You should give your first passed midstream urine of the day as a urine sample for a urine culture test.
How long does it take to get the results?
A urine culture test report is usually available within 3 days of the collection of urine samples.
Are there any risks or side effects?
No, there are no risks or side effects of a urine culture test. However, if the urine sample is collected using an unsterilised needle, bottle or catheter, it might increase the potential risk of further infection .
What can we know from a urine culture test?
With the urine culture test report, we know about urinary tract infection. The test report is either “positive” or “negative.” A positive test report means there is an infection, whereas a negative test report means there is no infection.
What is the normal range for urine culture?
Urine is normally sterile. However, skin bacteria or poor collecting technique may contaminate your sample. Therefore, a small amount of growth in a urine sample is considered normal. The normal range is 10,000–100,000 colony-forming units (CFU). Anything above the previously mentioned range is considered a risk of potential infection.
Book your urine test now at the best price with Vijaya Medical Centre.