Urine C/S (Urine Culture and Sensitivity)

Urine is the body’s liquid waste made when the kidneys filter out toxins from the blood. It is made up of water, salt, electrolytes such as sodium and potassium, and some metabolic end products. The pathway followed by urine from the kidneys to the outside is called the urinary tract. Sometimes, this urinary tract may get infected by some microorganisms causing a UTI.

The Urine C/S (Urine Culture and Sensitivity) test is usually done when you experience symptoms of UTI, such as a burning sensation while passing urine, back pain, painful or frequent urination, blood in the urine, etc., for appx. 3-4 days and do not subside. This test helps to identify infection-causing microorganisms. If the results are positive, the sensitivity test helps determine which drugs (or antibiotics) are likely to be most effective for treating your infection. On the other hand, a negative urine culture indicates no signs of microbial infection, hence it will not show sensitivity to various antibiotics.

Before your test, make sure to drink enough water to be able to submit a urine sample for testing. The doctor may ask you to stop taking certain medications like antibiotics and supplements before a Urine C&S test as they may affect your test results. A mid-stream urine sample should be collected into a sterile container provided by the sample collection professional. Women are advised not to give the sample during the menstrual period unless prescribed as that can interfere with certain test results.

Test result ranges are approximate and may differ slightly between different labs depending on the methodology and laboratory guidelines. Talk to your doctor about your specific test results. Narrate your complete medical history to help the doctor correlate your clinical and laboratory findings. The test results will help them determine your medical condition and formulate your overall treatment plan.