How accurate is UTI testing? What the results really tell you.
Frustrated with recurrent UTIs? Sick of the same symptoms? Find out why knowing what to test for is vital to getting targeted treatment and lasting relief with MyUTI.
What do standard UTI tests look for?
The two types of tests typically used in the doctor’s office are urine dipstick tests and urine cultures. Dipstick tests are the quickest method to identify infection by detecting white blood cells in your urine. Urine cultures are the next step up in UTI testing. For this, your doctor will send a urine sample to a lab to be analyzed.
Why isn’t standard UTI testing enough?
The problem is, typical UTI tests are out of date and simply don’t take in the whole picture. Dipstick tests (often called ‘urine test strips’) don’t tell your doctor anything about your infection, other than the fact you have one. Similarly, urine cultures will often only identify one or two of the potential causes of your UTI. Both of these methods leave your doctor to guess which antibiotics will work best for you.
Why does inadequate testing lead to unsuccessful treatment?
Antibiotics are key to relief from UTI symptoms. But often, women will be prescribed generalized antibiotics for their UTI before even receiving test results. When not prescribed properly, some antibiotic treatments can actually promote recurrent UTIs by causing antibiotic resistance.
Antibiotic resistance is when bacteria develop the ability to defeat the antibiotics used to kill them. Generalized antibiotics don’t discriminate, they attack both good and bad bacteria. This means that the good bacteria in your gut microbiome are weakened during treatment. In the case of UTIs, this can allow bad bacteria to colonize, produce biofilm and protect themselves - leading to recurrent UTIs that just won’t go.
What does MyUTI do differently?
MyUTI uses PCR technology to test for the top 12 causes of UTI symptoms. The test looks for the most common UTI-causing pathogens such as e.coli, e.faecalis & k. pneumonia - as well as organisms like candida (yeast), ureaplasma and mycoplasma, which can mimic UTI symptoms.
Identifying & differentiating these 12 organisms, along with the top antibiotic resistance genes in a single sample, allows us to provide personalized antibiotic recommendations based on your individual test results. By helping you identify the right antibiotics for your UTI, we give you the greatest chance at successful treatment and lasting relief.
Why does targeted treatment matter for UTI relief?
By testing for the top 12 causes of UTI symptoms, the MyUTI test provides your doctor with more information to make an informed decision about your treatment. Better testing encourages more targeted treatment which, in turn, reduces the risk of antibiotic resistance. Curious about what the MyUTI test report looks like? Download it here.
So, what next?
Understanding the different tools and options available to diagnose and treat UTIs is key to feeling empowered to manage your urinary health. By knowing exactly what the different UTI tests look for, you can ensure you’re getting targeted treatment from the start - and avoid the risk of antibiotics making your infection worse.
If you suffer from recurrent UTIs and want to be prepared - you can order the MyUTI Just In Case Kit to get real answers as soon as that first symptom strikes.
