The main diagnostic tool for a UTI is the examination of urine samples:

• Urinalysis studies the sample under a microscope to detect hematuria and bacteria
• Urine culture identifies the bacteria by growing them in the lab, then tests them to see what drugs will most effectively treat them

Diagnosing recurrent infections or those that aren ' t cured with normal antibiotics may require images of the urinary tract. The imaging tests used include:

• Intravenous pyelogram (IVP): This is a form of x-ray in which a special dye (called a "contrast agent") is injected into a vein in the arm. It passes quickly into the urinary system, making it easier to see any problems.
• Ultrasound: This imaging technology uses sound waves projected into the body to create pictures of the organs and areas being examined.

Cystoscopy: In this procedure, the urologist looks directly into the bladder by inserting a cystoscope (a thin, telescope-like instrument with a fiber-optic lighting system and a special lens) up the urethra and into the bladder.