Better2Know Sexual health & STIs

Urine Analysis: Culture and Microscopy

This test checks a urine sample under a microscope and by culture for signs of a urinary tract infection. It suits people with symptoms such as a burning sensation when urinating who want to identify what is causing them.

Sample
Urine
Collection
Urine sample at clinic; also home kit £79
Results in
2 days
Biomarkers
1
Tests for
  • Urine culture

Test specifications

Provider
Better2Know
Sample type
urine
Collection method
urine sample at clinic; also home kit £79
Turnaround time
2 days
Biomarkers tested
1
At-home test
No
Doctor reviewed
No
Gender focus
Both

What's tested

1 biomarker as listed by Better2Know.

Infection

  • Urine culture

About this test

This is a urine culture and microscopy test used to check for a urinary tract infection (UTI) when you have symptoms such as pain or burning when urinating, going more often than usual, or urine that looks cloudy or smells different. A small urine sample is examined under a microscope for signs of infection and cultured to see whether bacteria grow, which can also identify which bacteria is responsible.

At £160 for the clinic version, this sits close to the £145 median across the 81 similarly sized sexual health tests we track, about 10% above it. Better2Know also offers a home collection kit for the same test at £79, which is notably cheaper if you would rather avoid a clinic visit. We do not have named competitor products in our data for this exact test to compare against directly.

The listing scores well for clarity and for collection convenience, since it sets out the marker, sample type, turnaround and collection routes clearly. It loses marks on clinical depth, since a single marker places it in the lower range among sexual health tests, and on results and follow-up, because results are not reviewed by a doctor as standard.

Who is it for?

This suits you if you have symptoms such as burning or pain when urinating, going to the toilet more often than usual, or unusual-looking or smelling urine, and want to find out whether a urinary tract infection is the cause via a clinic appointment.

If you would rather collect the sample yourself, Better2Know's home kit version of the same test costs £79, notably less than this £160 clinic option; choose the clinic version if you would rather have a healthcare professional take the sample or have symptoms you want to discuss in person.

How it works

You provide a urine sample at a Better2Know clinic. Part of the sample is examined under a microscope for signs of infection, and part is cultured in the laboratory to see whether bacteria grow, which can identify the specific bacteria involved. Results are typically available within two days of the sample reaching the laboratory. The fact sheet does not state that results are reviewed by a doctor as standard, though a consultation can be arranged if the result is positive.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Combines microscopy and culture, which can identify the specific bacteria involved, not just whether an infection is present.
  • Clear listing covering the marker, sample type, collection options and turnaround.
  • A home kit version of the same test is available for £79 if you prefer not to attend a clinic.
  • Results are ready within two days of reaching the laboratory.

Cons

  • At £160, around 10% above the median for similarly sized sexual health tests we track.
  • Measures a single marker, so it will not screen for other infections at the same time.
  • Doctor review of results is not included as standard.

Our editorial score

Compare Health Test Score UTI culture test priced close to the category median
Editorial confidence: 9.0/10

Better2Know examines this urine sample under a microscope and by culture to check for a urinary tract infection, useful if you have symptoms such as burning when you urinate. At £160 it sits close to the £145 median for the 81 similarly sized sexual health tests we track. An at-home version of the same test is available for £79, and results are not reviewed by a doctor as standard.

Score breakdown

  • Clarity and documentation 9.0/10

    The listing publishes a detailed description, the full biomarker list, a stated turnaround, clear collection options, the sample type; it does not state what the report looks like.

  • Clinical depth 5.8/10

    1 biomarkers, placing it in the 21st percentile of sexual health tests we track.

  • Collection convenience 8.0/10

    A urine sample you take at home, no needle; results in around 2 days, in line with or faster than similar tests.

  • Results and follow-up 3.0/10

    Results are not doctor-reviewed and no consultation is included; the provider does not describe the report format.

  • Trust signals 6.5/10

    Trustpilot 4.2 from 775 reviews; CQC registered; trading 18+ years.

  • Value for money 6.0/10

    £160.00 against a median of £145.00 for the 81 similarly sized sexual health tests we track (+10%).

Calculated 13 September 2026 from the facts we hold about this test and provider, using our published scoring formula. Scores are not hand-edited.

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