If you’ve had a urinary tract infection, you know the symptoms the next time it happens. But you still need a definitive diagnosis.
In the past, that meant going to the doctor’s office and having a culture sent to the lab. Now, you can use an at-home test kit.
So, what do you do once you have the results?
“If it’s positive, you can call your doctor’s office and tell the doctor you have the classical symptoms of a bladder infection and the results of your home test,” explained Dr. John Swartzberg, head of the editorial board at the UC Berkely Wellness Letter.
Your doctor may say that’s sufficient to give you a prescription or ask to see you in person.
“If the test is negative and you’re symptomatic, you definitely have to contact your doctor,” Dr. Swartzberg said, “You don’t want to just say, ‘the test is negative, I can’t have a bladder problem.’ It’s terribly important you contact your doctor.”
The DYI UTI test kits are about $8 to $12. Dr. Swartzberg tells me they’re pretty accurate.
More Info: Use this link for free access to the Wellness Letter’s story on home tests for urinary tract infections until January 6, 2023.
