Routine Checkup – General health screening.
Diagnosing Symptoms – Helps find causes of pain, blood in urine, frequent urination, or infections.
Monitoring Conditions – Tracks diabetes, kidney disease, liver issues, or UTIs.
Pregnancy & Fertility – Confirms pregnancy or ovulation.

This is a common result when the urine sample is contaminated by bacteria from the skin during collection. Because the lab sees three or more types of bacteria, they cannot determine which one is causing your symptoms. To avoid this, please follow our Mid-Stream Urine collection instructions carefully.

Antibiotic sensitivity testing is only performed when a significant growth of a single pathogen is identified. If your result shows “Mixed Growth” or “No Growth,” the laboratory cannot provide a sensitivity profile. Sensitivity testing on a contaminated sample would be clinically inaccurate and could lead to the wrong treatment.

The best way to ensure an accurate result is to provide a Mid-Stream Urine (MSU) sample. This involves:

1. Cleaning the genital area with water.

2. Passing the first part of your urine into the toilet.

3. Catching the “middle” portion of the urine in the sterile container without stopping your flow.

4. Finishing the rest of your urination into the toilet. This process washes away surface bacteria, ensuring the lab analyzes only the urine from your bladder.

Not necessarily. A “Mixed Growth” result is inconclusive—it means the sample was not “clean” enough to provide a definitive answer. If you have strong symptoms but receive a mixed growth result, a repeat test using the Mid-Stream technique is usually recommended.

While a culture grows bacteria over 24–48 hours, Microscopy (part of our Urinalysis) provides an immediate look at the physical components of your urine. It quantifies White Blood Cells (WBCs), Red Blood Cells (RBCs), and epithelial cells. These markers provide vital clues about inflammation and irritation in the urinary tract, even if the culture result is inconclusive.

Ideally, no. Antibiotics work quickly to suppress bacterial growth. If you take even a single dose before providing a sample, it can cause a “False Negative” result (where the lab finds no bacteria even though an infection is present). For the most accurate results, we recommend providing your sample before starting any antibiotic treatment. If you are already on a course, please inform us so we can note this for the laboratory.

Results can take up to 5-7 working days especially if a significant organism is found.

Why the wait? 

We know you want answers fast. However, clinical-grade microbiology cannot be rushed. It takes time for bacteria to naturally multiply so the scientists can identify them with 100% certainty. This ensures you get the right treatment.

A dipstick is a rapid screening tool that looks for chemical markers (like nitrites). While fast, it is not always 100% accurate and cannot tell you which bacteria is present or which antibiotic to use. A Laboratory Culture is the “Gold Standard” — it is far more sensitive and is the only way to get a specific antibiotic sensitivity map to ensure you are not taking an ineffective medication.

Yes, you can still perform the test. However, please be aware that blood from menstruation can show up in the Microscopy results as Red Blood Cells (RBCs). To minimize this and avoid a “Mixed Growth” result, please use a tampon if possible and follow the Mid-Stream Urine (MSU) collection technique carefully.