Enable effective treatments early with UTI PCR Testing

What is a urinary tract infection?

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) are common infections that can affect any part of the urinary tract, including the urethra, bladder, and kidneys. While some UTIs are caused by certain fungal pathogens, most are considered bacterial infections. UTIs occur most frequently in women, although the infection can occur in men and children as well.

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50-60% of adult women will have at least one UTI in their lifetime2

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36% of patients who had a negative urine culture had a positive detection of bacteria with a PCR urine test3

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>92% of UTI-causing bacteria are resistant to at least one common antibiotic4

PCR UTI testing

Traditional UTI testing is performed through a urine culture, which is used to identify specific pathogens causing the infection. However, some UTI-associated pathogens can be difficult to grow in a urine culture, making results take longer than two days to return.3,5

We offer PCR UTI testing that offers highly specific pathogen detection rates and fast result turnaround times for symptomatic bacterial UTIs.3,5 This allows treatments to begin earlier, using the most effective antibiotics for treating the specific bacteria detected.

Antibiotic resistance

Early and effective treatment is important for managing UTIs. If left untreated for the proper bacteria, a UTI can recur from the same pathogen or develop into a more serious infection.4 Because antibiotic resistance continues to increase, effective treatment of UTIs is highly dependent on the accurate identification of pathogens.5

Our PCR UTI testing includes reflexive antibiotic resistance testing, which identifies pathogens that provide multi-resistance to common antibiotics. This helps reduce the overprescribing of broad-spectrum antibiotics, and ensures the infection is being treated with the proper antibiotic.

Antibiotic Resistance

Symptoms

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The severity of UTI symptoms varies depending on the type of infection. Uncomplicated UTIs are infections that occur in otherwise healthy individuals without any major urinary tract abnormalities.1 These types of infections may cause symptoms such as:

  • frequent urge to urinate
  • painful and frequent urination
  • pressure or cramping in the lower abdomen
  • cloudy or discolored urine
  • abnormal discharge

Complicated UTIs are more severe infections where the urinary tract is compromised due to an obstruction or issues with kidney function. These infections may cause symptoms such as:

  • fever
  • chills
  • lower back pain
  • pain in the side of the back
  • nausea or vomiting

Urinary pathogens detected

Our comprehensive UTI panel uses molecular technique to detect pathogens difficult to grow in urine culture, including:

  • Candida albicans
  • Candida glabrata
  • Candida parapsilosis
  • Candida tropicalis
  • Enterobacter cloacae
  • Escherichia coli*
  • Enterococcus faecalis*
  • Klebsiella oxytoca
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae*
  • Mycoplasma hominis

  • Morganella moranii
  • Psuedomonas aeruginosa
  • Proteus mirabilis*
  • Providence suartii
  • Streptococcus agalactiae
  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Serratia marescens
  • Staphylococcus saprophyticus*
  • Ureaplasma urealyticum

*Most common UTI-associated pathogens6

Benefits

Benefits of PCR UTI testing

  • Higher pathogen detection rates than urine culture testing
  • Faster result turnaround time than urine culture testing
  • Reflexive antibiotic resistance testing enables effective antibiotic treatments early
  • Convenient sample collection method

Coverage and Affordability

Hereditary cancer screening can help you and your provider develop a risk management plan, and we don’t want cost to impact your access to proactive health insights. Our Patient Care team works directly with insurance providers to learn about prior authorization requirements and coverage of hereditary cancer screening, so you know what to expect. If you do not have insurance or have insurance coverage concerns, we offer financial assistance and self-pay options.

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Results

Test results are provided between 24-48 hours of submitting your sample. Result reports will indicate the presence of UTI-associated pathogens, and if resistance was detected for specific antibiotics.

  1. Shafrin, J., Marijam, A., Joshi, A. V., Mitrani-Gold, F. S., Everson, K., Tuly, R., Rosenquist, P., Gillam, M., & Ruiz, M. E. (2022). Economic burden of antibiotic-not-susceptible isolates in uncomplicated urinary tract infection: Analysis of a US integrated delivery network database. Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control, 11(1), 84-84. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-022-01121-y
  2. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2008). ACOG practice bulletin no. 91: Treatment of urinary tract infections in nonpregnant women. Obstetrics and Gynecology (New York. 1953), 111(3), 785-794. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0b013e318169f6ef
  3. Austin Urology Institute (2020, November 18). Urine PCR—Urinary Tract Infection Test. Austin Urology. Retrieved from https://austinurologyinstitute.com/blog/urine-pcr/#:~:text=Urine%20PCR%3A%20A%20Urine%20PCR,a%20sample%20of%20your%20urine.
  4. Ahmed, S. S., Shariq, A., Alsalloom, A. A., Babikir, I. H., & Alhomoud, B. N. (2019). Uropathogens and their antimicrobial resistance patterns: Relationship with urinary tract infections. International Journal of Health Sciences, 13(2), 48-55.
  5. Wojno, K. J., Baunoch, D., Luke, N., Opel, M., Korman, H., Kelly, C., Jafri, S. M. A., Keating, P., Hazelton, D., Hindu, S., Makhloouf, B., Wenzler, D., Sabry, M., Burks, F., Penaranda, M., Smith, D. E., Korman, A., & Sirls, L. (2020). Multiplex PCR based urinary tract infection (UTI) analysis compared to traditional urine culture in identifying significant pathogens in symptomatic patients. Urology (Ridgewood, N.J.), 136, 119-126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.urology.2019.10.018
  6. Flores-Mireles, A. L., Walker, J. N., Caparon, M., & Hultgren, S. J. (2015). Urinary tract infections: Epidemiology, mechanisms of infection and treatment options. Nature Reviews. Microbiology, 13(5), 269-284. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro3432

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