A Straightforward Test for Uncomplicated UTIs
Organism ID, Colony Count, and Susceptibility — From One Culture
For a routine, uncomplicated urinary tract infection, a standard urine culture gives you what you need: the organism present, how much of it there is, and which antibiotics will treat it. It's a well-established, reliable test — ordered when a straightforward answer is what the visit calls for.
Key Benefits:
Organism identification — genus and species
Quantitative colony count (CFU/mL)
Antibiotic susceptibility panel (S/I/R) to guide treatment
Detects the full range of common uropathogens
Simple to order as a stand-alone test
How Urine Culture Works
Isolate, Identify, Test
A urine specimen is plated and incubated to allow any organisms present to grow. Growth is quantified as colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL), which helps distinguish a true infection from contamination or normal colonization. Any organism meeting the significant-growth threshold is then identified by genus and species, and tested against a panel of antibiotics to determine whether it's sensitive, intermediate, or resistant to each one.
What's Included:
Quantitation. Colony count (CFU/mL), used to determine whether growth is clinically significant.
Identification. Organism identification by genus and species.
Susceptibility. A susceptibility result — sensitive, intermediate, or resistant — for each antibiotic on the panel, based on the isolate recovered.
One Result, One Decision. A single report clinicians can use to select or confirm an antibiotic for routine treatment.
The Urine Culture Test
What's Reported, and How It's Determined
- Organism identification (genus and species)
- Quantitative colony count (CFU/mL)
- Antibiotic susceptibility panel — Sensitive / Intermediate / Resistant
- Antibiotics included on the standard susceptibility panel
- Interpretive comments distinguishing likely infection from contamination or colonization
- Mixed/polymicrobial growth reported per standard criteria, with a request for redraw when the growth pattern suggests contamination
- Standardized calibrated-loop plating for accurate colony quantitation
- Susceptibility testing performed on isolates meeting significant-growth criteria
- Interpretive thresholds applied consistent with recognized clinical guidelines (colony-count cutoffs vary by specimen type and collection method — clean catch, catheterized, or suprapubic)
- CLIA-certified, high-complexity laboratory
- Specimen Type: Clean catch midstream urine (other collection types accepted per protocol)
- Collection Requirements: Sterile container receptacle
- Specimen Stability: Up to 48 hours at room temperature for many commercially validated boric acid transport tubes
- Turnaround Time: 3–4 days upon receipt of specimen
Who Should Order Urine Culture & Sensitivity
For Routine UTI Workups
Primary Care. Uncomplicated UTI symptoms — burning, urgency, frequency — where a standard culture confirms the organism and directs treatment.
Urgent Care. Urgent, UTI complaints where a straightforward culture and sensitivity result is all that's needed.
OB/GYN and Women's Health. Routine UTI workups and pregnancy-related bacteriuria screening.
General Practice. Any practice that wants a simple, stand-alone culture order without a bundled panel.
Urology. When testing for complicated UTIs is not needed, culture can be ordered on its own.
Part of a Broader Test Menu
Order What the Visit Calls For
Urine Culture & Sensitivity is available as a stand-alone order. SoftCell also offers a full menu of urinalysis and molecular testing for practices that need it — order culture on its own, or alongside other tests, depending on what the visit requires.
Our Advanced Diagnostics Testing
The SoftCell Standard, Every Test, Every Time
At SoftCell, every test we run is backed by advanced, precision-engineered instrumentation, rigorously validated protocols, and a team that refuses to cut corners. Our experienced, expert team holds every result to strict quality assurance standards — because "close enough" isn't in our vocabulary. As a CLIA-certified reference laboratory powered by Doc Lab — the same team behind the science and development of our core reagents — we offer something most labs can't: tighter quality control, faster problem resolution, and technical support from the people who built the test.
Ordering Information
Effortless Access to Advanced Diagnostics
Ordering is simple, and results are delivered how you prefer: secure web portal, fax, or EMR integration. New accounts are set up fast, complete with kits, requisitions, and portal access. For any questions or assistance, our dedicated client services team is here to help. Contact us at info@SoftCellLabs.com or (503) 402-2505.
Experience the SoftCell Difference
Where Innovation Meets Clinical Excellence
Trust SoftCell for your reference laboratory needs and unlock the power of precise, personalized medicine. Our advanced testing can make a significant difference in your practice through improved patient outcomes and more efficient treatment plans. Work with a lab partner that actually answers the phone.