Better2Know Sexual health & STIs

Urine for Microscopy and Culture Home Test Kit

This at-home kit lets you collect a urine sample yourself for laboratory culture and microscopy, checking for a urinary tract infection. It suits people with UTI-type symptoms who would rather not attend a clinic.

  • At-home test
  • Subscription available
Sample
Urine
Collection
At-home urine sample, post to lab; also clinic £160
Results in
3 days
Biomarkers
1
Tests for
  • Urine culture

Test specifications

Provider
Better2Know
Sample type
urine
Collection method
at-home urine sample, post to lab; also clinic £160
Turnaround time
3 days
Biomarkers tested
1
At-home test
Yes
Doctor reviewed
No
Gender focus
Both

What's tested

1 biomarker as listed by Better2Know.

Infection

  • Urine culture

About this test

This is a home-collection version of Better2Know's 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, more frequent urges to go, or urine that looks cloudy or smells unusual. You collect the sample yourself using the kit provided, and it is examined under a microscope and cultured in the laboratory to check for bacteria and identify which type is present.

At £79 this costs a good deal less than Better2Know's own clinic-based version of the same test at £160, and sits well below the £145 median for the 81 similarly sized sexual health tests we track, around 46% cheaper. The trade-off is a slightly longer turnaround, at three days rather than two for the clinic version.

The test scores well on value for money and on collection convenience, reflecting the option to collect the sample at home rather than attend a clinic. It scores less well on clinical depth, since a single marker places it in the lower range for 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 UTI-type symptoms, such as burning or pain when urinating or more frequent urges to go, and would rather collect a sample at home and post it off than attend a clinic.

If you want the fastest possible result, Better2Know's clinic-based version of the same test costs £160 but returns results a day sooner; the home kit is the better choice if cost and convenience matter more than speed.

How it works

You collect a urine sample yourself at home using the kit provided, then post it to Better2Know's laboratory using the material supplied. The sample is examined under a microscope for signs of infection and cultured to check whether bacteria grow, which can identify the specific bacteria involved. Results are typically available within three days. 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

  • Around 46% cheaper than the £145 median for similarly sized sexual health tests we track.
  • £81 less than Better2Know's own clinic-based version of the same test.
  • Sample is collected at home, avoiding a clinic visit.
  • Combines microscopy and culture, which can identify the specific bacteria involved.

Cons

  • Turnaround of three days, a day longer than the clinic-based version of the same test.
  • Measures a single marker, so it will not screen for other infections at the same time.
  • As with the clinic version, doctor review is not included as standard.

Our editorial score

Compare Health Test Score Home-kit version of the clinic UTI test, cheaper option
Editorial confidence: 9.0/10

This home kit lets you collect a urine sample yourself for culture and microscopy, checking for a urinary tract infection, then post it to Better2Know's laboratory. At £79 it costs less than the equivalent clinic-based version at £160, and against the wider £145 median for similarly sized sexual health tests we track it is notably cheaper too. Results take a little longer than the clinic version and 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 7.0/10

    A urine sample you take at home, no needle; results in around 3 days, slower 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 8.8/10

    £79.00 against a median of £145.00 for the 81 similarly sized sexual health tests we track (-46%).

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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