PCR Test Vs Urine Culture: Which Is Best For Detecting UTIs?
According to data from the University of California San Francisco, about 40% of all women will have a urinary tract infection (UTI) at some point in their lives, making UTIs one of the most common of all bacterial infections.
While UTI symptoms are most often relatively mild, symptoms can sometimes persist for several weeks if left untreated. In rare cases, the infection is able to spread from the bladder and urinary tract to one or both kidneys, causing damage that permanently reduces kidney function and potentially leading to life-threatening kidney failure.
Thankfully, UTIs can be easily treated with antibiotics when properly diagnosed. This means that if you are experiencing common UTI symptoms such as a persistent urge to urinate, a burning sensation when urinating, strong-smelling urine, or urine that appears cloudy, it is important to schedule UTI testing as soon as possible.
Today, there are two main types of tests used to detect UTIs: PCR tests and urine culture tests. To help you decide which test is best for you, we’ll take a look at how each one works before discussing which test is better for detecting UTIs.
What is Urine Culture Testing?
Urine culture testing is a type of testing that has been used to detect UTIs for decades. A urine culture test involves taking a urine sample from a patient and introducing a substance that is meant to promote the growth of pathogens. After allowing a few days for any pathogens that might be present in the sample to multiply, the sample is then analyzed for diagnosis.
What is PCR Testing?
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing entails analyzing a sample taken from the patient for foreign genetic material. If foreign genetic material is detected within the sample, PCR testing is then able to determine the precise pathogen that is causing the patient’s infection.
Which is Best for Detecting UTIs?
In more ways than one, PCR testing is a far better solution for detecting UTIs than urine culture testing. To start, PCR testing is able to deliver same day results whereas urine culture tests can often take several days before results are ready. This allows patients suffering from a UTI to undergo testing, receive a diagnosis, and begin treatment all in one visit to their physician.
In addition to being much faster, PCR testing is also much more accurate. In a study titled “Multiplex PCR Based Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Analysis Compared to Traditional Urine Culture in Identifying Significant Pathogens in Symptomatic Patients” that was published in ScienceDirect, PCR testing was found to detect uropathogens at a significantly higher rate than urine culture testing. The study concluded by saying, “Multiplex PCR is noninferior to urine culture for detection and identification of bacteria. Further investigation may show that the accuracy and speed of PCR to diagnose UTI can significantly improve patient outcomes.”
The final benefit of PCR testing compared to urine culture testing is the fact that PCR testing is able to detect a much wider range of pathogens. Along with the uropathogens responsible for causing UTIs, PCR testing can also be used to test for STDs and yeast infections in addition to a long list of other bacteria and pathogens.
While urine culture testing has been the standard for UTI detection for quite some time now, advances in PCR testing have made it the far superior choice for patients who are experiencing UTI symptoms.
Schedule a PCR UTI Test With St. Jude Labs
At St. Jude Labs, we utilize the latest PCR testing technology to provide our patients with swift and accurate medical testing services. In addition to providing same-day results for UTI testing, our PCR tests also allow us to test for a broad range of other conditions in a single appointment.If you are experiencing UTI symptoms and would like to receive the fastest and most reliable UTI testing available, be sure to schedule an appointment for PCR UTI testing with St. Jude Labs today.
