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Urine Culture

Which bacteria are in your urine, from one urine sample.

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  • 2,000+ lab locations. Find one near you
  • Nothing due at the lab. FSA / HSA accepted
  • Ordered by a licensed clinician

At a glance

Collection
Urine sample
Collected at your visit. No needle.
Preparation
None
Nothing to do ahead of time. Water is fine.
Results
2 to 4 days
Cultures need a few days to grow.
Where
2,000+ lab locations
Nationwide, with nothing due at the lab.

About this test

A urine culture places a urine sample in conditions where bacteria can grow, then counts and identifies any that do. It is a common follow-up to urinary symptoms or to a urinalysis that suggests infection. A clean sample matters, since bacteria from the skin can mix in, so the lab will guide you.

For adults 18 and older. Test availability varies by lab location.

Who should take this test?

This test is often used by adults with urinary symptoms, or after a urinalysis suggests infection, to see which bacteria are present. Commonly related symptoms include:

Groin

  • Burning with urination
  • Frequent urge to urinate

Kidney

  • Cloudy urine
  • Strong-smelling urine

Stomach

  • Lower belly pressure

Ask about this test

Not sure this is the right test?

AI-generated. For information only, not medical advice. Call 911 for an emergency.

What does this test measure?

Your result shows whether bacteria grew from your urine sample, which kinds, and roughly how many, which can help a healthcare provider decide on next steps for a possible infection.

Urine culture
A urine culture grows any bacteria in your sample in the lab to check whether bacteria are present and which organism is involved. If bacteria grow, the lab identifies them and, when appropriate, tests which antibiotics they respond to. A provider reads the result with your symptoms.
Why it’s measured: Grows and identifies any bacteria in your urine sample for a provider to review.

How it works

  1. Step 1

    Order online

    Check out here. A licensed clinician in your state reviews your order and sends it to the lab.

  2. Step 2

    Visit a lab

    Bring a photo ID to any of 2,000+ lab locations. No fasting needed, and nothing is due at the lab.

  3. Step 3

    Get your results

    Results post to your account, usually in 2 to 4 days, each number next to the lab’s reference range.

Find a lab near you

Choose from 2,000+ lab locations nationwide. Your order works at any of them.

What your results tell you

Results show whether bacteria grew and, if so, which kinds and an approximate count, which helps tell infection from skin contamination.

  • Your number next to the lab’s reference range
  • Explained in plain language
  • A licensed clinician reviews your order and, if appropriate, orders the test.
  • A lab report you can download and share

Treatment decisions are made with a healthcare provider, so share your result with one, and get care promptly if symptoms get worse.

Urinalysis or urine culture?

Urine tests that answer different questions.

Urine culture

Grows and identifies bacteria in urine.

What it checks
Which bacteria grow from the sample, if any, and roughly how many
Useful for
Urinary symptoms or following up a urinalysis
Culture step
The culture itself

Clinical-grade testing, from the comfort of home.

From the lab to your report, every step of our process meets the gold standard in medical testing.

  • CLIA-certified labs

    Every lab we partner with is certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, meeting both state and federal standards with regular independent inspections.

  • We protect your health data

    We protect your health data with encryption and do not sell it. Some results must be reported to public health authorities by law. See our Privacy Notice.

  • Rigorous quality assurance

    All partner labs run regular internal quality checks, participate in proficiency testing, and comply with federal and state lab regulations.

  • Clinician-reviewed reports

    Results are reviewed by an independent, licensed clinician.

Questions

Common questions.

Anything else, our care team answers by phone, text, or email.

If the culture is positive, the lab identifies the bacteria and, when appropriate, tests which antibiotics affect them. This information is for a healthcare provider, who decides whether and how to treat an infection.

On its way out of the body, urine passes skin and tissue that naturally carry bacteria. A clean-⁠catch, midstream sample helps keep those bacteria out of the cup. The lab counts the bacteria it grows partly to tell a true infection from contamination, and the lab staff will guide you through the collection.

No. This test is not for urgent care, and a culture takes time to grow. If urinary symptoms come with fever, chills, back or side pain, nausea or vomiting, or you feel very unwell, contact a healthcare provider or get urgent care right away.

A culture shows bacteria that grow under lab conditions, and the counts are approximate. Some organisms do not grow in a routine culture. A culture without growth does not by itself mean there is no infection, especially if symptoms continue. A healthcare provider reads it with your symptoms and urinalysis.

Lab tests are informational and don’t diagnose conditions on their own. Available to adults 18 and older; test availability varies by lab location. A licensed clinician reviews your order and, if appropriate, orders the test. All testing is performed at CLIA-certified laboratories. Not for emergencies: if you think you may be having a medical emergency, call 911.