Diagnosis

Rapid test for a cystitis

What is a rapid cystitis test?

A rapid test for cystitis is an over-the-counter pack of urine test strips in pharmacies, drug stores or the Internet. This can be used to quickly and easily determine at home whether there is a possible urinary bladder infection.

If a cystitis is present, a doctor should be consulted, who can then initiate further diagnostic steps.

Who should do a rapid test for cystitis?

People who have a frequent urge to urinate, but only pass a few droplets of urine and who also experience pain in their abdomen when urinating, show symptoms of cystitis. Women in particular are more likely to be affected than men, as their urethra is shorter.

This makes it easier for bacterial infections to rise to the bladder and cause painful symptoms.

Can I get a rapid test for a cystitis without a prescription?

The rapid test for a cystitis is available over the counter at the pharmacy. But numerous verified online shopping sites on the Internet also offer quick tests for at home from various manufacturers.

The advantage here is that the suspicion of possible urinary tract infections can be determined quickly and easily without having to wait long for an appointment with the doctor

procedure

The urine should first be collected in a urine cup. Then a test strip is simply dipped into the urine for a few seconds (this time varies between manufacturers). After waiting around 30 to 60 seconds, the colors on the test strip can be compared with the color table on the back of the packaging.

Some manufacturers offer test strips that not only show whether a pathological value is present in the urine, but also how strong or weak it is. This makes it easy to see at home to what extent therapy by a doctor is necessary. But in principle, going to the doctor is always strongly recommended in the event of a positive test for a bladder infection.

evaluation

Urine test strips are available in different designs that detect different substances in the urine. An increased number of white (Leukocytes) and red (ErythrocytesBlood cells indicate a bladder or kidney infection.

An increased concentration of nitrite indicates a bacterial urinary tract infection and sugar (glucose) in the urine can provide initial indications of diabetes mellitus. In addition, protein shows that there is possibly a kidney disease and changes in the pH value allow conclusions to be drawn about an infection of the urinary tract or diabetes mellitus.

Are there any risks with the test?

In principle, there are no risks involved in running the rapid test at home. The rapid test can provide helpful conclusions about existing diseases, but does not replace a visit to the doctor and a professional urine test.

In addition, test results can be falsified if the patient brings the urine sample taken at home to the doctor. Because in the meantime, bacteria can accumulate in the urine cup and thus give incorrect results. In addition, taking certain medications or menstrual bleeding in women can lead to incorrect results.

The editors recommend the following article for the treatment of cystitis: Cystitis therapy

Duration until the result

The result of the urine test is usually visible on the test strip for between 30 and 60 seconds. The strip can then be compared with the color table on the back of the packaging.