What is a Urinary Tract Infection Home Test?

A urinary tract infection home test is a test, similar to a pregnancy test, that a person can perform in the privacy of her own home to determine if she has a urinary tract infection. These tests typically come with a dipstick that is either held under the stream of urine or dipped into a container holding urine. After about 15 minutes, the test will change colors indicating either a positive or negative result. If the results are positive, a doctor's visit will be necessary so the urinary tract infection can be treated. Even though these tests are typically reliable, they are not always 100 percent accurate, so a person should still keep a close eye on her symptoms if she gets a negative result.

In most cases, a urinary tract infection home test works by checking for nitrate in the urine. Nitrate is a substance often found in the urine of people who have urinary tract infections. Some tests also check for the presence of white blood cells in the urine, which are typically indicative of an infection. The results of a urinary tract infection home test are usually more reliable if a person takes it the first time she urinates in the morning. In most cases, the urine is more potent and less diluted after a person has been sleeping throughout the night, which makes urinary tract infection tests more likely to give accurate results.

Even if a person goes to the doctor with a positive urinary tract infection home test, she should understand that the doctor will still need to perform his own test to be sure her results are accurate. The test the doctor uses will likely be similar to the home test the patient used. If the doctor gets a positive result, he will typically prescribe antibiotics to treat the urinary tract infection. Most of the time, antibiotics are effective against these infections and clear them up very quickly. A patient should take her antibiotics until they are gone even if she begins to feel better just a few days after starting them.

Urinary tract infection home tests are also useful for people who are undergoing treatment for these infections. The tests can be used every other day so that a person can see if her infection is clearing up. These tests are also handy for people who have children who are prone to bladder infections. Some children are young enough that they cannot explain their symptoms to an adult, and the use of one of these home tests could put a worried parent's mind at ease.