Urine Culture Results: What They Mean

You had a urine culture and now you are waiting for the results. Maybe you see the results on a health app, like MyChart. But you don't know what the results mean. While this blog post does not replace a visit to your urologist, it does go over a few helpful ways to look at your results.

What Is a Urine Culture?

A urine culture is a test your urologist might order. The test checks for a urinary tract infection or UTI. Your provider will see if bacteria or fungi grow from your urine sample. A lab technician places the sample onto a plate that encourages microorganisms to grow. They wait a day or two to see if anything grows on the plate. If a lot of things grow, you might have a UTI.

If an infection is found, your urologist might perform tests to find out what antibiotics work best for it.

How Long Does a Urine Culture Take?

Germs take time to grow. Usually, a urine culture takes one or two days. Timing can vary by lab. Your urine culture results may take longer, depending on your provider.

What Your Urine Culture Results Mean

Here is what your urine culture results generally mean:

• Negative/no growth. This means nothing of note grew on your plate.
• Positive. Germs grew. With symptoms, this points to a possible UTI.
• Mixed growth. This means more than one germ grew but not enough for a clear diagnosis. A repeat test may be needed to confirm the results.

With that said, it's not your responsibility to figure out what your results mean by yourself. Your urologist will help. They can answer your questions and explain your results so that you understand them.

Why a Clean Sample Matters

A clean sample helps your urologist make a clear diagnosis. When a sample comes back with mixed results, there is often worry of contamination from skin bacteria. Your provider will likely order a second test. That way they can confidently help you through any potential diagnosis and treatment plan.

When to Follow Up

If you have any questions about your results or if symptoms get worse, reach out to your Baptist Health provider. If you do not have a provider, you can find one by visiting our provider directory.