What is a UTI Antibiotic Resistance Test?
Urinary tract infections are some of the most common infections and tend to have antimicrobial resistance.
Half of all women and one in every 10 men will have a UTI in their lifetime. The WHO says this is rapidly growing due to rise in antibiotic resistance.
Over 80% of UTI infections are caused by E. coli.
Other common causes are K. pneumoniae and P. mirabilis.
Once presence of the pathogens is confirmed, treatment can depend on several factors including resistance, risks during pregnancy, type of bacteria (gram-negative or positive).
Therefore, antibacterial susceptibility testing can be helpful in proper treatment of a urinary tract infection.
What does an Urinary Tract Infection Antibiotic Resistance Test check?
An test checks the presence of following seven bacteria species:
Escherichia coli
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Proteus mirabilis
Enterococcus faecallis
Enterococcus faecium
Klebsiella oxytoca
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
What are some of the antibiotics associated with the UTI pathogens?
Different groups of bacteria are susceptible to different antibiotics, e.g.,
For E. coli, K. oxytoca, K. pneumonia, P. mirabilis: amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, Cephalothin (cephalexin), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (SXT), nitrofurantoin, ciprofloxacin, fosfomycin.
For E. faecalis, E. faecium: ampicillin, nitrofurantoin, ciprofloxacin, fosfomycin, doxycycline, linizolid.
How to check UTI antibacterial resistance at home?
You can order our simple, low-cost Urinary Pathogens Antibiotic Resistance Testing to confirm your infection without going to a doctor or a lab. Order the test kit online, collect a swab sample at home, send it to our CLIA-certified labs, and learn about your results in just a few days.
Q: Can I purchase the test across US?
A: Except New York and New Jersey our tests are available in all 48 states. State regulations in NY, NJ do not allow us to ship the tests to their residents. We also ship to Canada and rest of the world.
Q: What does the UTI Antibacterial Resistance Test kit contain and how do I use it?
A: The kit for our UTI pathogen resistance test contains a few swabs, a sample preserving tube, instructions on how to collect the sample, and a form for basic information including date and time of collection. The directions are straight forward and easy to follow.
Q: How long does it take to receive the results?
A: You will receive the kit within 3-5 business days with a prepaid return envelope (for orders within US). After you ship the sample and it is received by the lab, most results are available within 5-7 business days.
For orders from outside US, shipping to your address is FREE but we do not cover return shipping to the lab.
Q: How do you handle my samples and data?
A: Your samples are kept by the lab for a few weeks and the extracted DNA is kept for a few months. The samples are disposed off in biohazardous waste that is picked up by a certified waste management company that specializes in medical waste disposal and follows strict regulatory guidelines.
Regarding your data: the labs are required to keep the data for a minimum of 2 years. Your data is not released anyone else except those authorized by you or as required by the law. We also ensure that such information is stored securely in accordance with HIPAA and other applicable federal as well as state laws and regulations. In certain cases, we may have to release information to a third party if such information is required for medical treatment, emergency or by federal or state law.
Q: What do I expect from the report?
A: The report with your test results will be easy to understand and will have all the necessary details. It will mark each bacteria as positive or negative depending on your results. The report will also briefly discuss what the results mean.
Q: Can I use my insurance to pay for the test?
A: No. We do not have the capability to process insurance claims. Insurance plans vary by individuals and may not pay for certain tests. Please talk to your insurance provider if you have any further concerns. We are happy to provide a receipt if you want to submit it yourself, or require one for HSA or FSA accounts.
Q: How reliable are my results?
A: We have partnered with CLIA-certified labs that are used by physicians across the US. These labs are regulated by the states, as well as Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Many tests from these labs are FDA approved to ensure they meet the proper regulatory requirements. Additionally, the College of American Pathologists (CAP) requires inter-laboratory tests to ensure the ranges established by each lab do not drift or are within acceptable ranges. This is done through regularly testing reference samples between different labs. Finally, the labs test thousands of sample for different age groups and health conditions, and have well established reference data to compare your results against this large pool.
Q: Can you recommend what therapy should I take if my levels are high or low?
A: Unfortunately, no. As a lab test provider we can only test and report out data from your samples. We are not authorized to provide any medical recommendations. But we strongly encourage you to discuss the results with your doctor for next steps.
