How do you test for mucus in urine?
Mucus is a thick, slimy substance that coats and moistens certain parts of the body, including the nose, mouth, throat, and urinary tract. A small amount of mucus in your urine is normal. An excess amount may indicate a urinary tract infection (UTI) or other medical condition. A test called urinalysis can detect whether there is too much mucus in your urine.
Other names: microscopic urine analysis, microscopic examination of urine, urine test, urine analysis, UA
What is it used for?
A mucus in urine test may be part of a urinalysis. A urinalysis may include a visual check of your urine sample, tests for certain chemicals, and an examination of urine cells under a microscope. A mucus in urine test is part of a microscopic exam of urine.
Why do I need a mucus in urine test?
A urinalysis is often part of a routine checkup. Your health care provider may include a mucus in urine test in your urinalysis if you have symptoms of a UTI. These include:
- Frequent urge to urinate, but little urine is passed
- Painful urination
- Dark, cloudy, or reddish-colored urine
- Bad smelling urine
- Weakness
- Fatigue
What happens during a mucus in urine test?
Your health care provider will need to collect a sample of your urine. You will receive a container to collect the urine and special instructions to make sure that the sample is sterile. These instructions are often called the “clean catch method.” The clean catch method includes the following steps:
- Wash your hands.
- Clean your genital area with a cleansing pad given to you by your provider. Men should wipe the tip of their penis. Women should open their labia and clean from front to back.
- Start to urinate into the toilet.
- Move the collection container under your urine stream.
- Collect at least an ounce or two of urine into the container. The container will have markings to indicate the amounts.
- Finish urinating into the toilet.
- Return the sample container as instructed by your health care provider.
Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test?
You don’t need any special preparations for this test. If your health care provider has ordered other urine or blood tests, you may need to fast (not eat or drink) for several hours before the test. Your health care provider will let you know if there are any special instructions to follow.
Are there any risks to the test?
There is no known risk to having a urinalysis or a test for mucus in urine.
What do the results mean?
If your results show a small or moderate amount of mucus in your urine, it is mostly likely due to normal discharge. A large amount of mucus may indicate one of the following conditions:
- A UTI
- A sexually transmitted disease (STD)
- Kidney stones
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Bladder cancer
To learn what your results mean, talk to your health care provider.
Is there anything else I need to know about a mucus in urine test?
If a urinalysis is part of your regular checkup, your urine will be tested for a variety of substances along with mucus. These include red and whiteblood cells, proteins, acid and sugar levels, and the concentration of particles in your urine.
If you get frequent UTIs, your health care provider may recommend more testing, as well as steps that may help prevent reinfection.