Medical Tests & Exams

What It Is

A scrotal ultrasound is a safe and painless test that uses sound waves to make images of the scrotum (the pouch of skin at the base of the penis that contains the testicles).

During the examination, an ultrasound machine sends sound waves into the scrotum and images are recorded on a computer. The black-and-white images show the internal structures of the scrotum, such as the testicles, the epididymis (the tube that collects sperm made by a testicle), and the spermatic cord (the tube that connects a testicle to the inside of the body).

Why It’s Done

Doctors order a scrotal ultrasound when they’re concerned about symptoms such as scrotal pain or swelling.

A scrotal ultrasound can show:

• the size of the testicles
• signs of injury to the testicles
• abnormally swollen veins in the scrotum (varicocele)
• fluid collection around the testicle (hydrocele)
• twisting of the testicle, which cuts off its blood supply (testicular torsion)
• infection or inflammation in the epididymis (epidydimitis) or in the testicle (orchitis)
• a cyst or tumor in the scrotum
• an absent or undescended testicle

Preparation

Usually, no special preparation is needed for a scrotal ultrasound. You should tell the technician about any medications your son is taking before the test begins.

Procedure

The scrotal ultrasound will be done in the radiology department of a hospital or in a radiology center. Parents are usually able to accompany their child to provide reassurance.

Your son will be asked to change into a cloth gown and lie on a table. The room is usually dark so the images can be seen clearly on the computer screen. A technician (sonographer) trained in ultrasound imaging will spread a clear, warm gel on the skin of the scrotum, which helps with the transmission of the sound waves.

The technician will then gently move a small wand (transducer) over the gel. The transducer emits high-frequency sound waves and a computer measures how they bounce back from the body. The computer changes those sound waves into images to be analyzed.

Sometimes, the doctor will come in at the end of the test to meet your son and take a few more pictures. The procedure usually takes less than 30 minutes.

What to Expect

The scrotal ultrasound is painless. However, if the area is tender, the light pressure applied to move the transducer over the scrotum might be uncomfortable. Ask your son to lie still during the procedure so the sound waves can produce the proper images.

Babies might cry in the ultrasound room, especially if they’re restrained, but this won’t interfere with the procedure.

Getting the Results

A radiologist (a doctor who’s specially trained in reading and interpreting X-ray, ultrasound, and other imaging studies) will interpret the ultrasound results and then give the information to the doctor, who will review them with you. If the test results appear abnormal, the doctor may order further tests.

In an emergency, the results of an ultrasound can be available quickly. Otherwise, they’re usually ready in 1-2 days. In most cases, results can’t be given directly to the patient or family at the time of the test.

Risks

No risks are associated with a scrotal ultrasound. Unlike X-rays, radiation isn’t involved with this test.

Helping Your Child

Some younger kids may be afraid of the machinery used for the ultrasound. Explaining in simple terms how the scrotal ultrasound will be conducted and why it’s being done can help ease any fear. You can tell your son that the equipment takes pictures of his scrotum and testicles.

Encourage your son to ask the technician questions and to try to relax during the procedure, as tense muscles can make it more difficult to get accurate results.

If You Have Questions

If you have questions about the scrotal ultrasound, speak with your doctor. You can also talk to the technician before the exam.

What It Is

A 24-hour urine analysis is sometimes a part of an evaluation of a child who has a kidney stone. This test measures how much urine (pee) a child produces in a day, the acidity (pH) of the urine, and the amount of certain substances in it, such as calcium, sodium, uric acid, oxalate, citrate, and creatinine.

Why It’s Done

Kidney stones develop when certain salts or minerals build up in the urine and form crystals. The crystals stick together and enlarge, eventually forming a hard mass called a stone.

A 24-hour urine analysis can show if certain substances are found at high concentrations in the urine and might be causing the kidney stones. Urinary pH is also important, as certain crystals are more likely to form in urine that’s too acidic (low pH) and others are more likely to form in urine that’s not acidic enough (high pH).

The information from this test, in combination with other tests like blood tests and radiology studies, can help determine the cause and location of the stones and the treatment that might help prevent more kidney stones. Once treatment starts, another 24-hour urine collection can help determine whether the treatment is working.

Preparation

This test is usually done after a child has already passed a kidney stone and is feeling well, eating normally, and isn’t being treated for a urinary tract infection (UTI). Your child might need to temporarily stop taking specific drugs that could interfere with test results. Be sure to review all your child’s medications with your doctor.

The Procedure

Your doctor will give you a container in which to collect your child’s urine over the course of 24 hours. Upon rising in the morning, your child will be asked to urinate into the toilet so that the test is begun with an empty bladder. You should note the exact time this is done — this is the start of your child’s urine collection.

For the rest of the day, all of your child’s urine should be collected in the container. The following morning, the first urine of the day should be collected as well, with the time of day recorded. During the testing period, all the urine should be collected, even if it is just a small amount.

If your child isn’t potty trained and can’t urinate into a cup, urine collection bags with adhesive tape on one end might instead be used to collect the samples. Your baby’s genital area will need to be cleaned, and then the bag is placed around the urinary opening and secured with the attached tape. A diaper can be placed over the bag. The bag will need to be changed frequently to collect all of the urine, and each bag will need to be emptied into the special container.

Another option is the use of a catheter (a narrow, soft tube), which can be inserted into the bladder and left there for 24 hours to obtain urine.

The container should be capped and kept in the refrigerator or a cool place during the collection period. Once all the urine has been collected, deliver the container to the lab your doctor recommended. It is important to follow all the instructions to correctly collect, store and transport the urine sample.

A laboratory technician will measure the urine volume and acidity level, and the amount of specific substances in the urine, and will report these findings to your doctor.

What to Expect

Because the test involves normal urination, there shouldn’t be any discomfort as long as your child can provide a urine specimen. It’s important to clean the area around the urinary opening before each urine sample is provided.

Getting the Results

The results of the 24-hour urine analysis will be available within a few days. If the test shows abnormal results, further tests may be needed. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of the specific test results.

Risks

No risks are associated with the 24-hour urine analysis. Infants may occasionally experience skin irritation from the adhesive tape on the collection bag. If a catheterized specimen is required it may cause temporary discomfort and you can discuss any questions you have about this procedure with your doctor.

Helping Your Child

The 24-hour urine analysis is painless. Explaining in simple terms how the test will be conducted and why it’s being done can help ease any fear. Make sure your child understands that there should be no foreign matter, such as toilet paper or hair, in the sample.

If You Have Questions

If you have questions about the 24-hour urine analysis, speak with your doctor.

What It Is

An automated dipstick urinalysis is often done as part of an overall urinalysis, but it can also be done on its own, depending on the doctor’s concerns.

Once a urine sample is collected, a nurse or technician will place a specially treated chemical strip (dipstick) into it. Patches on the dipstick will change color to indicate the presence of such things as white blood cells, protein, or glucose.

The dipstick is then placed into a machine that uses beams of light to analyze the color changes. A machine reading can provide more detailed information than a manual reading.

Why It’s Done

The results of an automated dipstick urinalysis may point to diagnoses such as a urinary tract infection (UTI) or injury, kidney disease, urinary tract trauma, or diabetes. If test results show there might be a problem, other tests may be needed before a definite diagnosis can be made.

Preparation

No preparation other than cleansing the area around the urethra (urinary opening) is required for the automated dipstick urinalysis.

The Procedure

Your child will be asked to urinate (pee) into a clean sample cup in the doctor’s office, lab, or hospital.

The skin surrounding the urinary opening has to be cleansed just before the urine is collected. In this “clean-catch” method, you or your child cleanses the skin around the urinary opening with a special towelette. The child then urinates, stops momentarily, and then urinates again into the collection container. Catching the urine in “midstream” is the goal. Be sure to wash your hands and your child’s afterwards.

If your child isn’t potty trained and can’t urinate into a cup, a doctor or nurse may need to insert a small soft plastic tube (catheter) into the bladder to obtain the urine specimen.

The technician or nurse then will place a dipstick into the urine sample and put the dipstick into an automated reader.

Collecting the urine should only take a few minutes. If your daughter is having her period at the time of the test, let the doctor know.

What to Expect

Because the test involves normal urination, there shouldn’t be any discomfort as long as your child can provide a urine sample. It’s important to keep the area around the urinary opening clean before the test and to catch the urine sample midstream.

Getting the Results

The results of the automated dipstick urinalysis usually do not take long, and your doctor will review them with you. If problems are found, more urine tests may be needed.

Risks

No risks are associated with taking an automated dipstick urinalysis. If a catheter is used to obtain the urine, it may cause temporary discomfort. If you have any questions or concerns about this procedure, talk to your doctor.

Helping Your Child

The automated dipstick urinalysis is painless. Explaining how the test will be conducted and why it’s being done can help ease any fear. Make sure your child understands that the urinary opening must be clean and the urine must be collected midstream.

If You Have Questions

If you have questions about the automated dipstick urinalysis, speak with your doctor.

What It Is

A urine calcium test is done to determine how much of the mineral calcium is being excreted in the urine (pee) by the kidneys.

Why It’s Done

A urine test for calcium is often done to:

• help find the cause of kidney stones and other kidney diseases
• detect overactivity or underactivity in the parathyroid glands (glands in the neck that make hormones that help control the level of calcium in the blood)
• monitor disorders of the kidney and diseases of calcium metabolism

The test results also may point to digestive disorders that harm the small intestine’s ability to absorb nutrients. The urine calcium test is usually used in combination with other tests to make a specific diagnosis.

Preparation

The doctor might prescribe a special diet with high or low levels of calcium for a few days before the test. Your child might need to temporarily stop taking specific drugs, such as antacids, that affect calcium levels in the urine.

The Procedure

Collecting the specimen should only take a few minutes. Your child will be asked to pee into a clean sample cup in the doctor’s office. If your child isn’t potty trained and can’t urinate into a cup, a small catheter may need to be inserted into the bladder to get the urine specimen.

Alternatively, a urine collection bag with adhesive tape on one end may be used to collect a sample from an infant. You’ll clean your baby’s genital area and then arrange the bag around the urinary opening. Once the bag is in place, secure it with the attached tape. You can then put a diaper on your baby. Check your baby’s collection bag and remove it after your child has urinated, usually within an hour.

After you bring the sample to the lab, technicians will analyze it for calcium content.

What to Expect

Because the test involves normal urination, there shouldn’t be any discomfort as long as your child can provide a urine specimen.

Getting the Results

The results of the urine calcium test are usually available in 1-2 days. Your doctor will go over the results with you and explain what they mean. If abnormalities are found, your doctor may may want to do further tests to make a specific diagnosis.

Risks

Infants may occasionally experience skin irritation from the adhesive tape on the collection bag. If a catheter is used to obtain the urine, it may cause temporary discomfort. If you have any questions or concerns about this procedure, talk to your doctor.

Helping Your Child

Urine collections are usually painless. Explaining how the test will be conducted and why it’s being done can help ease any fear. Make sure your child understands that there should be no foreign matter, such as toilet paper or hair, in the sample.

If You Have Questions

If you have questions about the urine calcium test, speak with your doctor.

What It Is

Creatinine is a waste product that the muscles produce at a steady rate as part of normal daily activity. The bloodstream carries creatinine to the kidneys, which filter it out of the blood, then creatinine passes out of the body in the urine (pee).

A urine creatinine test measures the amount of creatinine in the urine. It can be done on its own or with other tests that determine the amounts of other substances in the urine.

Why It’s Done

Healthy kidneys filter the blood to rid it of waste products that the body can’t use. Low levels of creatinine in the urine may point to a kidney disease, certain muscular and neuromuscular disorders, or a blockage in the urinary tract. If test results are abnormal, other tests will be done to make a specific diagnosis.

A creatinine clearance test measures how much creatinine is passed in the urine over several hours. A blood test to measure the creatinine level in the blood is also usually done. This gives doctors information about how well the kidneys are functioning.

A doctor may order a urine creatinine test in combination with other urine tests even when no kidney problem is suspected. Because creatinine is filtered out at a fairly steady rate, doctors compare the creatinine level with levels of other substances to see if they’re excreted at a normal rate.

Preparation

Your child might need to temporarily stop taking certain drugs that affect the urine’s creatinine levels and might be asked to not eat large quantities of meat in the day or two before the test.

The Procedure

For a creatinine clearance test, you’ll need to collect all the urine your child passes usually over 24 hours. If you are doing this at home, this usually involves first getting a special container from the lab in which to collect the urine, plus specific instructions.

If your child isn’t potty trained and can’t urinate into a cup, urine collection bags with adhesive tape on one end might instead be used to collect the samples. Your baby’s genital area will need to be cleaned, and then the bag is placed around the urinary opening and secured with the attached tape. A diaper can be placed over the bag. The bag will need to be changed frequently to collect all of the urine, and each bag will need to be emptied into the special container.

Another option is the use of a catheter (a narrow, soft tube), which can be inserted into the bladder and left there for 24 hours to obtain urine.

If you collect the specimen at home, follow any storage and transportation instructions the lab gives you.

What to Expect

Because the test involves normal urination, there shouldn’t be any discomfort as long as your child can provide a urine specimen.

Getting the Results

In general, the results of the urine creatinine test are available within a day or two. Your doctor will go over the results with you and explain what they mean. If abnormalities are found, further tests may be needed.

Risks

No risks are associated with taking a urine creatinine test.

Infants may occasionally have skin irritation from the adhesive tape on the collection bag. If a catheter is used to get the urine, it may cause temporary discomfort. If you have any questions or concerns about this procedure, talk to your doctor.

Helping Your Child

Explaining how the test will be conducted and why it’s being done can help ease any fear. Make sure your child understands that there should be no foreign matter, such as toilet paper or hair, in the sample. And all the urine should be collected for the test to be accurate.

If You Have Questions

If you have questions about the urine creatinine test, speak with your doctor.

What It Is

A urine dipstick test is often done as part of an overall urinalysis, but it also can be done on its own, depending on the doctor’s concerns.

Once a urine sample is collected, a nurse or technician will place a specially treated chemical strip (dipstick) into your child’s urine (pee). Patches on the dipstick will change color to indicate the presence of such things as white blood cells, protein, or glucose.

Why It’s Done

The results of a urine dipstick test may point to a diagnosis of urinary tract infection (UTI), kidney disease, diabetes, or a urinary tract injury. If test results are abnormal, other tests will be needed before a definite diagnosis can be made.

Preparation

No preparation other than cleansing the area around the urinary opening is required for the urine dipstick test.

The Procedure

Your child will be asked to urinate into a clean sample cup in the doctor’s office. If your child isn’t potty trained and can’t urinate into a cup, a catheter (a narrow, soft tube) may need to be inserted into the bladder to obtain the urine specimen.

The skin surrounding the urinary opening has to be cleaned and rinsed just before the urine is collected. In this “clean-catch” method, you or your child cleans the skin around the urinary opening with a special towelette. The child then urinates, stops momentarily, and then urinates again into the collection container. Catching the urine in “midstream” is the goal. Be sure to wash your hands and your child’s hands after this process.

Sometimes, if the doctor is concerned about a urinary problem that isn’t due to an infection, a urine collection bag might be used to collect a sample from an infant. If you’re doing the collection at home, you’ll clean your baby’s genital area and then arrange the bag around the urinary opening. Once the bag is in place, you’ll secure it with the attached adhesive tape. You can put a diaper on your baby after you’ve attached the bag. You’ll be instructed on how to remove the bag once your baby has urinated into it, usually within an hour.

Sometimes, if the doctor is concerned about a urinary problem that isn’t due to an infection, a urine collection bag with adhesive tape on one end might be used to collect a sample from an infant. If you’re doing the collection at home, you’ll clean your baby’s genital area and then arrange the bag around the urinary opening. Once the bag is in place, you’ll secure it with the attached tape. You can put a diaper on your baby after you’ve attached the bag. You’ll be instructed on how to remove the bag once your baby has urinated into it, usually within an hour.

Once collected, the technician or nurse will then place the dipstick into the urine sample. Collecting the specimen should only take a few minutes.

What to Expect

Because the test involves normal urination, there shouldn’t be any discomfort as long as your child can provide a urine specimen. It’s important to keep the area around the urinary opening clean before the test and to catch the urine sample midstream.

Getting the Results

The results of the urine dipstick test will be available right away. If abnormalities are found, further urine tests will be needed. Talk to your child’s doctor about the meaning of the specific test results.

Risks

No risks are associated with taking a urine dipstick test. If a catheterized specimen is required, it may cause temporary discomfort.

Helping Your Child

The urine dipstick test is painless. Explaining how the test will be conducted, and why it’s being done, can help ease your child’s fear. Make sure your child understands that the urinary opening must be clean and the urine must be collected midstream.

If You Have Questions

If you have questions about the urine dipstick test, speak with your doctor.

What It Is

A microalbumin-to-creatinine ratio urine test involves measuring the amount of a protein called albumin in the urine (pee). The amount of urine albumin is compared with the quantity of a waste product in the urine called creatinine.

The body normally filters out creatinine in the urine at a steady rate, so comparing the ratio of urine albumin with creatinine in the same urine specimen helps determine if the body is excreting albumin at an increased rate. If this is happening, it may be the result of kidney disease.

In most healthy people, the kidneys prevent albumin and other proteins from entering the urine. However, if kidneys are damaged and start to allow proteins to pass from the blood into the urine, the first type of protein to appear in the urine is albumin. This is because albumin molecules are smaller than most other protein molecules.

The consistent presence of small amounts of albumin in the urine is called microalbuminuria and is associated with early-stage kidney disease. Once there are larger amounts of albumin in the urine it is called macroalbuminuria and it could indicate more severe kidney disease.

Why It’s Done

The microalbumin-to-creatinine ratio test is most commonly used to screen for kidney problems in teens with diabetes. It also might be done on a more regular basis, like once a year, in teens with diabetes to help in early identification of kidney disease.

It also can be used to monitor kidney function in kids and teens already diagnosed with kidney disease or taking medications that can affect the kidneys. The test can also help detect kidney complications from hypertension and autoimmune diseases.

Preparation

Your child might need to temporarily stop taking specific drugs that could interfere with test results. Be sure to review all your child’s medications with your doctor.

The Procedure

Your child will be asked to urinate (pee) into a clean sample cup in the doctor’s office or at home. Collecting the specimen should only take a few minutes. If your child isn’t potty trained and can’t urinate into a cup, a catheter (a narrow, soft tube) may need to be inserted into the bladder to obtain the urine specimen.

A urine collection bag with adhesive tape on one end might instead be used to collect a sample from an infant. If you’re doing the collection at home, you’ll clean your baby’s genital area and then attach the bag around the urinary opening. Once the bag is in place, you’ll secure it with the attached tape. You can put a diaper on your baby once you’ve attached the bag. Remove the collection bag after your baby has urinated into it, usually within an hour. Deliver this specimen to your lab.

Sometimes, a doctor will want to test urine collected over a period of time ranging from 4 to 24 hours. After each urination, you or your child will pour the specimen from the sample cup into a larger container. Be careful not to touch the inside of the container. During the testing period, all the urine should be collected, even if it is just a small amount.

For specimens collected at home, follow any storage and transportation instructions the lab gives you. At the lab, the technician will determine the quantity of albumin in the urine and compare it with the amount of creatinine in the urine.

What to Expect

Because the test involves normal urination, there shouldn’t be any discomfort as long as your child can provide a urine specimen. It’s important to keep the area around the urinary opening clean before the test.

Getting the Results

The results of the microalbumin-to-creatinine test will be available in 1-3 days. It’s important to know that children sometimes pass albumin in their urine even though they have no kidney damage.

If the test shows abnormal results, further tests will be ordered to determine if there’s an illness and, if so, help diagnose it. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of the specific test results.

Risks

Collecting a urine sample for the urine microalbumin-to-creatinine ratio test is usually painless and without risk. Infants may occasionally experience skin irritation from the adhesive tape on the collection bag. If a catheterized specimen is required it may cause temporary discomfort.

You can discuss any questions you have about this procedure with your doctor.

Helping Your Child

Explaining in simple terms how the test will be conducted and why it’s being done, can help ease any fear. Make sure your child understands that there should be no foreign matter, such as toilet paper or hair, in the sample. And all the urine should be collected during the designated period for the test to be accurate.

If You Have Questions

If you have questions about the microalbumin-to-creatinine ratio test, speak with your doctor.

What It Is

Microscopic urinalysis is often done as part of an overall urinalysis. After a urine (pee) sample is collected, it’s put into a centrifuge — a special machine that separates the liquid in the urine from any solid components that may be present, such as blood cells, mineral crystals, or microorganisms. Any solid materials are then viewed under a microscope.

Why It’s Done

The results of a microscopic urinalysis may point to a urinary tract infection (UTI), kidney problems, a metabolic disorder such as diabetes, or a urinary tract injury. If test results are abnormal, other tests may be needed before a definite diagnosis can be made.

Preparation

Cleansing the area around the urinary opening is required for the microscopic urinalysis. Your child might need to temporarily stop taking certain medications that could interfere with test results.

The Procedure

Your child will be asked to urinate into a clean sample cup in the doctor’s office, in the hospital, or at home. If your child isn’t potty trained and can’t urinate into a cup, a catheter (a narrow soft plastic tube) may need to be inserted into the bladder to obtain the urine specimen.

The skin surrounding the urinary opening has to be cleansed just before the urine is collected. In this “clean-catch” method, you or your child cleanses the skin around the urinary opening with a special towelette (this might need to be done more than once). Your child then urinates, stops momentarily, and then urinates again into the collection container. Catching the urine in “midstream” is the goal. Be sure to wash your hands and your child’s hands before and after this process. Collecting the specimen should only take a few minutes.

Occasionally, if the doctor is concerned about a urinary problem that isn’t due to an infection, a urine collection bag with adhesive tape on one end might be used to collect a sample from an infant. If you’re doing the collection at home, you’ll clean your baby’s genital area and then arrange the bag around the urinary opening. Once the bag is in place, you’ll secure it with the attached tape. You can put a diaper on your baby after you’ve attached the bag. You’ll be instructed on how to remove the bag once your baby has urinated into it, usually within an hour.

If you obtain the specimen at home, follow any storage and transportation instructions the lab gives you.

What to Expect

Because the test involves normal urination, there shouldn’t be any discomfort as long as your child can provide a urine specimen.

Getting the Results

The time it takes to get the results of the microscopic urinalysis can vary, and your doctor will review them with you. If abnormalities are found, further tests may be needed.

Risks

No risks are associated with collecting a midstream urine specimen for microscopic urinalysis. If a catheter is used to obtain the urine, it may cause temporary discomfort.

Helping Your Child

The routine microscopic urinalysis is painless. Explaining in simple terms how the test will be conducted and why it’s being done can help ease any fear. If your doctor needs a clean-catch sample, make sure your child understands that the urinary opening must be clean and the urine must be collected midstream.

If You Have Questions

If you have questions about the microscopic urinalysis, speak with your doctor.

What It Is

A urine protein test measures the total amount of protein in the urine. Once a urine sample is collected, the lab determines the amount of protein in the urine sample. This test is often done as part of a routine urinalysis in which several chemicals in the urine are measured.

Why It’s Done

In most healthy people, the kidneys prevent significant amounts of protein from entering the urine (pee), so the urine protein test is most commonly used to screen for kidney disease. It’s also used to monitor kidney function in kids already diagnosed with kidney disease or who are taking medicines that can affect the kidneys.

Abnormal results also may point to diseases affecting other parts of the body. Other tests may be needed before a definite diagnosis can be made.

Preparation

Before the test, your child might need to temporarily stop taking specific drugs that could interfere with results. Be sure to discuss this with your doctor.

The Procedure

Collecting the specimen should only take a few minutes. Your child will be asked to pee into a clean sample cup in the doctor’s office. If your child isn’t potty trained and can’t pee into a cup, a small catheter may need to be inserted into the bladder to get the urine specimen.

Alternatively, a urine collection bag with adhesive tape on one end might be used to collect a sample from an infant. You’ll clean your baby’s genital area and then arrange the bag around the urinary opening. Once the bag is in place, you’ll secure it with the attached tape. You can then put a diaper on your baby. Remove the collection bag once your baby has peed into it, usually within an hour. Bring this specimen to the lab.

Sometimes it’s better to collect a sample first thing in the morning after your child wakes up. If this is the case, you may be asked to help your child with the test at home. Follow any storage and transportation instructions the lab gives you.

What to Expect

Because the test involves normal urination, there shouldn’t be any discomfort as long as your child can provide a urine sample.

Getting the Results

The results of the urine protein test should be available within a day. Your doctor will go over the results with you and explain what they mean. If the results are abnormal, more tests may be ordered.

Risks

No risks are involved when taking a urine protein test. The adhesive tape on the collection bag may occasionally irritate an infant’s skin. If a catheter is used to obtain the urine, it may cause temporary discomfort. If you have any questions or concerns about this procedure, talk to your doctor.

Helping Your Child

The urine protein test is painless. Explaining how the test will be conducted and why it’s being done can help ease any fear. Make sure your child understands that there should be no other objects, such as toilet paper or hair, in the sample.

If You Have Questions

If you have questions about the urine protein test, speak with your doctor.

What It Is

A routine urine culture detects the amount of germs (microorganisms like bacteria) present in the urine.

Once a urine sample is collected, a technician will keep it in conditions where microorganisms can multiply. Normally, no more than a small number of germs will be in the urine if there’s no infection. If a larger number of germs are present, the technician will use a microscope or chemical tests to determine the specific types growing in the culture. The technician also may run tests to determine which medications will be most effective against the microorganism if the doctor diagnoses an infection.

Why It’s Done

A urine culture is used to diagnose a urinary tract infection (UTI) and see what kinds of germs are causing it. The doctor may order a urine culture if your child:

• complains of a painful sensation when peeing
• feels the urge to pee frequently but doesn’t produce much urine (also called urgency)
• has a fever of without a clear reason or has abdominal pain
• has a routine urinalysis that is abnormal, especially if it shows a high number of white blood cells
• has completed a course of treatment for a UTI, to see if the infection is gone

Preparation

No preparation other than cleansing the area around the urinary opening is required for the urine culture. Tell your doctor if your child is taking antibiotics or has taken them recently.

The Procedure

Collecting the sample should only take a few minutes. Your child will be asked to pee into a sterile sample cup in the doctor’s office. If your child isn’t potty trained and can’t pee into a cup, a catheter (a narrow soft tube) may need to be inserted into the bladder to obtain the urine specimen.

The skin surrounding the urinary opening has to be cleaned just before the urine is collected. In this “clean-catch” method, you or your child cleans the skin around the urinary opening with a special towelette. Your child then urinates into the toilet, stops momentarily, and then urinates again into the collection container. Catching the pee in “midstream” is the goal. The container shouldn’t touch your child’s skin. Be sure to wash your hands and your child’s hands before and after this process.

Sometimes it’s preferable to collect a sample first thing in the morning after your child wakes up. If this is the case, you may be asked to help your child with the test at home. You’ll take the sample to the lab, where a technician will test it for the presence of germs. Follow any storage and transportation instructions the lab gives you.

What to Expect

Because the test involves normal urination, there shouldn’t be any discomfort as long as your child can provide a urine sample. (There may be temporary discomfort if a catheter was inserted to collect the urine.) It’s important to keep the area around the urinary opening clean before the test and to catch the urine sample midstream.

Getting the Results

The results of the urine culture will be available in 1-3 days. Your doctor will go over the results with you and explain what they mean.

Risks

No risks are involved when providing a sample for a urine culture. If a catheterized specimen is required, it may cause temporary discomfort. You can discuss any questions you have about this procedure with your healthcare provider.

Helping Your Child

Urinating to provide the specimen for the test is usually painless. Ease your child’s fears by explaining how the test will be conducted and why it’s being done. Make sure your child understands that the urinary opening must be clean and the pee must be collected midstream.

If You Have Questions

If you have questions about the urine culture, speak with your doctor.