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What Do Minimum Inhibitory Concentration Levels In Urine Test Results Indicate?

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Posted on Tue, 8 Aug 2023
Question: labcorp gives urine culture results with examples like S<= 1 or S=4 s means susceptible but what do the numbers mean? Does S=8 mean a lot more effective than S<=2?
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Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:

Larger number for a given antibiotic is typically less effective.

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

The different numbers refer to the MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) which is the least amount of a particular antibiotic needed to inhibit the growth of the bacteria that grew on the urine culture. Generally a larger number means less sensitive.

I'm including a link to a pdf here which goes into considerable detail about how a sensitivity report is made. It is from the UK, but applies in the US as well.

To see it you will need to copy and paste the link into your search bar because it won't automatically "link" (can't just click on it).

http://www.idexx.co.uk/pdf/en_gb/smallanimal/reference-laboratories/testmenu/GuidetoInterpretingMICs.pdf

Hope I have answered your query.

Take care

Regards,
Dr Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, General & Family Physician
Note: Consult a Urologist online for consultation about prostate and bladder problems, sexual dysfunction, kidney stones, prostate enlargement, urinary incontinence, impotence and erectile dysfunction - Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1991

Answered : 3133 Questions

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What Do Minimum Inhibitory Concentration Levels In Urine Test Results Indicate?

Brief Answer: Larger number for a given antibiotic is typically less effective. Detailed Answer: Hello, The different numbers refer to the MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) which is the least amount of a particular antibiotic needed to inhibit the growth of the bacteria that grew on the urine culture. Generally a larger number means less sensitive. I'm including a link to a pdf here which goes into considerable detail about how a sensitivity report is made. It is from the UK, but applies in the US as well. To see it you will need to copy and paste the link into your search bar because it won't automatically "link" (can't just click on it). http://www.idexx.co.uk/pdf/en_gb/smallanimal/reference-laboratories/testmenu/GuidetoInterpretingMICs.pdf Hope I have answered your query. Take care Regards, Dr Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, General & Family Physician