The presence of nitrites in urine most commonly means there’s
a bacterial infection in your urinary tract
. This is usually called a urinary tract infection (UTI). A UTI can happen anywhere in your urinary tract, including your bladder, ureters, kidneys, and urethra.
What color will a positive nitrite test be?
It is used as an aid in the screening of urinary tract infection (UTI). The test is a firm plastic strip onto which Leukocyte and Nitrite test pads are attached. If the test is positive, the Leukocyte test pad should be
beige to dark purple
, and the Nitrite test pad should be uniform pink to red.
What does a positive nitrate test mean?
A positive test for nitrites in the urine is called nitrituria. This test is commonly used in diagnosing urinary tract infections (UTIs). A positive nitrite test indicates that
the cause of the UTI is a gram negative organism
, most commonly Escherichia coli.
What does it mean when you test positive for leukocytes and positive for nitrite?
A urine sample that tests positive for both nitrate and leukocyte esterase should be cultured for
pathogenic bacteria
. These tests are indirect ways of detecting bacteria in the urine. Significant urinary tract infections may be present in patients who do not experience other symptoms.
Why do I have nitrites in my urine?
Normal urine contains chemicals called nitrates. If bacteria enter the urinary tract, nitrates can turn into different, similarly named chemicals called nitrites. Nitrites in urine
may be a sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI)
. UTIs are one of the most common types of infections, especially in women.
What bacteria causes nitrites in urine?
The presence of nitrite may indicate the presence of
E. coli or K. pneumonia
; these bacteria produce nitrate reductase, which converts nitrate to nitrite. The leukocyte esterase (LE) test detects the presence of neutrophils as an indication of active infection.
What should not be found in urine?
Usually,
glucose, ketones, protein, and bilirubin
are not detectable in urine.
What is the normal range for nitrites in urine?
Normally no nitrites are detected in the urine
. Urinary nitrates are converted to nitrites by bacteria in the urine. A positive nitrite result signifies that bacteria capable of this conversion (eg, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Proteus, Enterobacter, Citrobacter, Pseudomonas) are present in the urinary tract.
What antibiotic is used for nitrates in urine?
Nitrofurantoin
is an oral antibiotic that is used in the treatment and prevention of lower UTIs.
Can a positive UTI test mean something else?
False positives may present if the
urine specimen appears red due to any cause
; for example, recent ingestion of common UTI pain relief medication containing phenazopyradine dye or contamination with menstrual fluid.
What does it mean if you have a trace of leukocytes in your urine?
If your doctor tests your urine and finds too many leukocytes, it could be a sign
of infection
. Leukocytes are white blood cells that help your body fight germs. When you have more of these than usual in your urine, it’s often a sign of a problem somewhere in your urinary tract.
What does it mean if you test positive for leukocytes in your urine?
White blood cells (WBCs)
An increased number of WBCs seen in the urine under a microscope and/or positive test for leukocyte esterase may indicate
an infection or inflammation somewhere in the urinary tract
. If also seen with bacteria (see below), they indicate a likely urinary tract infection.
What causes high nitrates?
Detritus, decaying plant material, dirty filters, over-feeding, and overstocking the aquarium
all contribute to increased levels of nitrate. Additionally, tap water used to fill the aquarium may contain nitrate in it. In the United States, drinking water may have nitrates as high as 40 parts per million (ppm).
How long do nitrates stay in your system?
Nitrite in blood soon converts to nitrate with half-life
about 110s
, while nitrite in plasma is relatively stable with half-life about 20-30 mins [4, 25-28].
Can you have bugs in your urine?
Urine infections are caused when bugs grow in the urine and cause inflammation or irritation in the lining of the bladder, the tube coming out of the bladder (the urethra), and sometimes also in the kidneys. Urine Infections are also known as Urinary Tract Infection (UTI).
What bacteria grows in urine?
Clinical isolates of
Enterococcus faecalis, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus saprophyticus
, and Streptococcus agalactiae have been shown to grow in human urine (Table 1).
