The main diagnostic tool for a UTI is the examination of urine
samples:
Urinalysis studies the sample under a microscope to
detect hematuria and bacteria
Urine culture identifies the
bacteria by growing them in the lab, then tests them to see
what drugs will most effectively
treat them
Diagnosing recurrent infections or those that aren’t cured
with normal antibiotics may require images of the urinary tract.
The imaging tests used include:
Intravenous pyelogram (IVP): This is a form of x-ray
in which a special dye (called a "contrast agent")
is injected into a vein in the arm. It passes quickly into
the urinary system, making it easier to see any problems.
Ultrasound: This imaging
technology uses sound waves projected into the body to create
pictures of the organs
and areas being examined.
Cystoscopy: In this procedure, the urologist
looks directly into the bladder by inserting a cystoscope (a
thin, telescope-like instrument with a fiber-optic lighting
system
and a special lens) up the urethra and into the bladder.
