A normal urine culture measures the number of germs (microorganisms such as bacteria) in the urine. A technician will maintain a urine sample in conditions where bacteria can multiply once it has been collected. If there isn't an illness, there will usually be only a few germs in the urine. If there are a lot of germs, the technician will use a microscope or chemical tests to figure out which ones are growing in the culture. If the doctor detects an illness, the technician may do tests to identify which treatments will be most successful against the bacterium.
