Can a Smartphone Camera Diagnose a UTI?

Scientists in England are working on a new way to detect urinary tract infections (UTIs) using smartphone cameras. While still in development, the new test could help doctors diagnose a urinary tract infection in just 25 minutes — eliminating the need to send samples to a lab (a process which can take days!) The process uses a phone’s camera to identify the presence of E. coli bacteria in a urine sample. This bacteria is a culprit in 80% of urinary tract infections. 

Biological engineers with the University of Bath recently published information about their technology in the journal Biosensors and Bioelectronics. Their hope is to make UTI diagnosis faster, cheaper and easier and to help ensure that antibiotics (the only treatment for a UTI) are prescribed appropriately. (As you may know, growing resistance to antibiotics due to overuse and misuse is a public health concern. In fact, the World Health Organization calls antibiotic resistance one of the biggest threats to global health today.)

There’s still more testing to be done and regulatory approval processes to be completed before this new UTI test is ready for primetime, but it certainly gives hope for frequent sufferers that their future diagnosis and treatment could become quicker and more economical. And when it comes to a UTI, the faster the relief the better.

If you think you’re experiencing UTI symptoms, like a frequent urge to urinate, a burning feeling while urinating, cloudy or strong smelling urine or pelvic pain, talk to your doctor right away. If you’re diagnosed with a UTI, prescription antibiotics are the only “cure.”

While you wait for your appointment, your meds, or the healing to begin, there is, however, something else you can do: you can ease the pain associated with a UTI and keep the infection in check with over-the-counter Cystex Urinary Pain Relief Tablets.

If you seem to frequently experience bothersome urinary issues, consider Cystex Urinary Health Maintenance to help maintain your urinary health. One tablespoon contains ingredients that can benefit your urinary tract including a prebiotic to help promote healthy bacteria and anti-adherents to help keep bad bacteria from sticking around.

To learn more about UTI prevention and maintaining urinary health, we’ve got some more great blogs for you. You can read them on your smartphone right now (no urine samples necessary.)