Guidelines do not require urine dips or urine samples if the patient and symptoms meet the criteria of an ‘uncomplicated UTI’. If you have a complicated UTI, meaning the anatomical structure or other factors make it more likely that the bacteria can be a variety of types of bacteria, a urine sample is requried to be sent to the lab to ensure you are receiving the correct treatment. When booking an appointment you will be asked some initial questions to help decide if a pharmacy appointment is the best starting place, or if you should instead book with a provider that can do a urine dip. For example, to be an uncomplicated infection, the patient must have:
- a vagina (with no past genital surgery) who are post pubertal (have had your first period) AND
- had an uncomplicated UTI in the past that was diagnosed by a physician or nurse practitioner
