This test is used to diagnose urinary tract infections. The specimen must be fresh and sent without delay to the laboratory. If urine is left at room temperature for more than an hour, there can be difficulty in interpreting the final results of the test because of multiplication of germs in the sample.
Procedure
Wipe your child’s genital area with warm water, paying special attention in girls to wash the area between the labia. In girls hold the labia apart and ask the child to pass urine. Let the first few drops fall into the toilet or potty and then collect the rest in a sterile specimen jar provided by your doctor or nurse. The procedure is somewhat easier in boys, but make sure that the child does not touch the tip of his penis after you have wiped the area clean before collecting the specimen.
The specimen is sent to the laboratory and a sample is checked under the microscope immediately. A few drops of urine are also placed on a special culture medium, and incubated for 72 hours. After 24 hours any germs present will reproduce and be detected. This can help to identify the cause of your child’s urinary tract infection. The laboratory technician will also be able to check which antibiotics the germ is sensitive to and this will guide the choice of antibiotic the doctor uses to treat the infection.
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