Amerifit Brands AZO Test Strips Urinary Tract Infection Home Test - 3 Strips

Amerifit Brands AZO Test Strips Urinary Tract Infection Home Test allow you to take a UTI test at home safely and simply, then call your doctor with the results. AZO Test Strips home UTI test can help diagnose if you have a urinary tract infection. The first combination test available for home use: tests for both Leukocytes (white blood cells) and Nitrite for greater reliability. Physicians know the combination test is better than a nitrite-only test. This information will allow you to take an active role with your physician in the management of your health.

• The same UTI test that most doctors use to diagnose a UTI.
• Two tests in one - including both Leukocyte (white blood cells) and Nitrite tests.
• Easy to use and read in just 3 simple steps.
• Test results are ready to read in just two minutes.
• Contains three diagnostic test strips individually wrapped in a foil pouch.
• Use at the first sign of a UTI: Urinary pain, burning, urgency, or frequency.

What is Urinary Health?
Maintaining good urinary tract health is the key to avoiding problems in your urinary system, including your bladder, kidneys or urethra.

What is a urinary tract infection (UTI)?
Urinary tract infections (UTI) are caused when bacteria enter the opening of the urethra and multiply. If left untreated, the infection can spread to other parts of the urinary tract, including the bladder and kidneys, and lead to a more serious condition. That's why it so important to see your doctor as soon as you experience symptoms. Only your doctor can prescribe an antibiotic to treat your UTI.

AZO can help you quickly and easily diagnose a UTI (AZO Test Strips), quickly treat UTI symptoms such as painful burning and urgency, (AZO Standard and AZO Standard Maximum Strength) and help maintain a healthy urinary tract (AZO Cranberry).

About urinary tract infections (UTIs).
You're not alone. After the flu and the common cold, urinary tract infections are the most common medical complaint among women age 18+, and it has been estimated that up to 60% of women will experience the unbearable pain and discomfort of a UTI at least once during their lives. The rate of repeat infections is high as well - about 20% of those who experience one UTI will have another. Furthermore, each year about 250,000 women develop kidney infections and 100,000 are hospitalized for treatment.

What causes these infections? Why are they so painful? How do you treat them? (And keep them from happening again?)

What is it?
A UTI is an infection anywhere in the urinary tract, such as the kidneys, bladder and urethra. Usually, the bacteria that cause a UTI enter the urethra and may travel to the bladder and kidneys. Your body often removes these bacteria, so there may not even be symptoms. Without treatment, the infection can lead to a more serious condition.

UTI causes
Both men and women can get urinary tract infections, although women are 30 times more likely. That's because the bacteria that commonly cause a UTI are found in the digestive tract, stool, and on the skin around and between a woman's anus and vagina. Since the female urethra is located very near these areas, the likelihood of bacteria reaching it is great. The short length of a female's urethra also makes her more prone to infection in other parts of the urinary tract.

Risk factors
A woman's likelihood of developing a UTI increases as she ages and goes through certain life stages. Other more common risk factors and triggers for a UTI include:

• Sexual intercourse, which can irritate the urethra, allowing bacteria to more easily travel to the bladder. Women who use diaphragms and/or spermicidal agents for birth control may also be at higher risk.
• Some medications which may lower immunity.
• Hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy, childbirth and menopause.
• Diabetes or other chronic illnesses that may impair the immune system.
• Exposure to damp clothes, such as wet bathing suits, which can aggravate bacteria growth.

Recurrent Infections
Most women don't have recurring infections, but it is common - in fact, one out of five women who get a UTI will get another one. If you do get another UTI, speak with your doctor about treatment options, he or she may prescribe a longer course of antibiotics or have other options for you, such as taking a single dose of antibiotic after sexual intercourse. You may also take AZO Cranberry to help maintain a healthy urinary tract.

Possible complications
Once diagnosed, most UTIs can be treated successfully. But urinary tract infections that are left untreated can lead to more serious complications like kidney infections, which may cause permanent damage. Women who have UTIs while pregnant may also have an increased risk of delivering low birth weight or premature infants. 

Do I have a UTI?
Not everyone with a urinary tract infection develops symptoms, but most people have at least some. You may have a UTI if you experience two or more of the following urinary tract infection symptoms:

• You feel a strong, persistent need to urinate, yet only pass a small amount
• You experience a burning sensation when you urinate
• Your urine is cloudy or contains blood
• Your urine has a strong odor
• You have pain in your back or lower abdomen
• You experience nausea, vomiting and/or just feel ill

If so, see your doctor, because the sooner you get treatment, the better. An untreated UTI could lead to serious complications. Your doctor will test a sample of your urine. Once the bacteria are identified, your doctor can prescribe an antibiotic to kill them. If you don't get an antibiotic, you won't get rid of the bacteria that caused your UTI and serious health problems may develop.

Test at home
You can also use AZO Test Strips – the same trusted test used in doctor's offices – to determine if the bacteria that cause a UTI are present, then call your doctor with the results. The most reliable, over-the-counter home test available, AZO Test Strips offer two tests in one - including both Leukocyte (white blood cells) and Nitrite tests – which makes them more accurate than nitrite-only tests. (Doctors look for Leukocytes as well as Nitrites in diagnosing UTIs.)

In the meantime, you can get fast relief from the pain and urgency of urinary tract infection symptoms with AZO Standard and AZO StandardMaximum Strength, the #1 pharmacist recommended, over-the-counter brand proven to relieve UTI symptoms fast.

How do I treat a UTI?
Remember, only your doctor can prescribe an antibiotic to kill the exact kind of bacteria that is causing your UTI. For a simple infection, you may take the antibiotic for 3 days or so. For a more serious infection, you may be given a prescription for 7 days or more.

Before you can see a doctor, or until the antibiotic starts to work, you can relieve the painful symptoms FAST with an over-the-counter urinary pain reliever like AZO Standard or AZO Standard Maximum Strength.

If you have recurrent UTIs, your doctor may suggest a different treatment course, or lifestyle changes. Make sure your doctor is aware of any other medications you may be taking, or allergies you have, and follow all instructions carefully for best results.

Fast relief for UTI symptoms
In the meantime, if you experience symptoms like pain, burning and frequent, urgent urination, you can get fast relief with AZO Standard or AZO Standard Maximum Strength. Take the tablets for just two days to relieve the pain, burning and urgency. It will not interfere with your antibiotic, but relieves the pain until the antibiotic starts to work.

AZO Standard and AZO Standard Maximum Strength contain Phenazopyridine Hydrochloride, the #1 urinary specific ingredient prescribed by doctors for urinary discomfort. That's something that Tylenol, Advil and other popular pain relievers don't contain. Keep it in your medicine chest, so it's there for you at the first, painful sign of a UTI. It can start working in as little as 20 minutes. Use it only when you think you may have a UTI, not for menstrual pain, headaches, or other pain. And don't take AZO Standard or AZO Standard Maximum Strength for more than two days without consulting your physician.

What else you can do

• Drinking plenty of water may help to dilute your urine and help flush out bacteria.
• Avoid coffee, alcohol and soft drinks that contain citrus juices and caffeine, as they can irritate your bladder and aggravate your need to urinate.
• A heating pad placed over your abdomen can ease pressure and discomfort
• Drink 8-16 ounces of cranberry juice daily to keep bacteria from growing and clinging to your bladder wall. Or take AZO Cranberry tablets to get benefits of cranberry juice in a more convenient way.

Will a UTI come back?
Most women don't have recurring infections, but it is common - in fact, one out of five women who get a UTI will get another one. If you do get another UTI, speak with your doctor about treatment options, he or she may prescribe a longer course of antibiotics or have other options for you. Changing some of your daily habits may also help to prevent future recurrences.

Can I prevent a UTI?
Once you experience a urinary tract infection, you'll do whatever it takes to prevent another UTI. However, recurring infections are actually quite common, with some women having 3 or more UTIs a year.

In fact, a woman's body has infection-fighting properties that normally protect the urinary system and prevent the growth of bacteria. But since the bacteria that cause a UTI are most commonly found in the digestive tract and stool, their proximity to the female urethra increases the likelihood of an infection.

So UTIs may happen, no matter how careful you are. Luckily, there are things you can do to try and reduce your chances of getting one. The most important step is to talk with your doctor about urinary tract infection prevention. He or she may prescribe an antibiotic, or suggest lifestyle changes that could help you avoid a UTI.

Here are some other tips to help you prevent a UTI:

• Drink lots of water.
• Drink 8-16 ounces of cranberry juice daily to keep bacteria from growing and clinging to your bladder wall. Or take AZO CRANBERRY tablets to get benefits of cranberry juice in a convenient tablet.
• Wipe from front to back when you go to the bathroom.
• If you are sexually active, go to the bathroom right after you have sex.
• Go to the bathroom as soon as you feel the need, rather than when the urge becomes strong.
• Use tampons instead of sanitary pads and change them every three to four hours.
• Wear clean cotton underwear that will allow air circulation and discourage the warm, moist environment necessary for bacteria growth.
• Don't hang around in a wet bathing suit or on a damp towel. Get into dry stuff as soon as you can.
• Avoid wearing tight clothes like ultra skin-tight jeans.

Can cranberries really help?
Yes. Studies show that cranberries, which are loaded with vitamin C and other antioxidants, can help prevent bacteria in the urinary tract from attaching to the bladder wall. To get benefits of cranberry juice without all the sugar, try AZO Cranberry tablets to help maintain a health urinary tract.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What does a positive result mean?
When used properly, the AZO Test Strips home UTI test can tell you that you have a urinary tract infection (UTI). Testing for both WBCs and nitrite is more effective for detecting a UTI than testing for nitrite alone.

How can I tell if I might have a UTI?
Common symptoms include:

• Burning or pain during urination
• Frequent urination
• Fever
• Back or groin pain

What should I tell my doctor if I get a positive result?
You should say, "My AZO Test Strips UTI test is positive for nitrite and/or WBCs (leukocytes)".

Will common foods, alcohol, or medications affect my test results?
Generally, no. Most substances will not interfere with the test. However, some medications can affect the color of your urine, making it difficult to match the colors. If this happens, contact your doctor. If you take more than 500 mg of Vitamin C in 24 hours, you may obtain an incorrectly negative nitrite result. The drug tetracycline may cause an incorrectly negative WBC result.

Can I have a UTI without symptoms?
Yes. This is more common in young children, pregnant women, and the elderly. Your doctor may suggest that you test your urine periodically to detect a UTI.

Can I get a positive result even though I do not have a UTI?
Generally, no. However, the WBC test can be positive if:

• The genital area is not cleaned thoroughly;
• There is vaginal discharge or menstrual blood in the urine; or
• If there is an inflammation in the urinary tract.

What if I am taking an antibiotic?
Your doctor may recommend that you test your urine again after completing the antibiotic treatment. If either test on the AZO Test Strips is positive, contact your doctor. Take the complete antibiotic dosage even if the strip is negative.

How accurate are AZO Test Strips?
AZO Test Strips have the same test pads as the strips used by doctors and clinical labs. In addition AZO Test Strips were evaluated in studies where solutions were tested by untrained users and healthcare workers to see how well the average home user could read the results. These studies showed that agreement between the two groups was 97% for the nitrite test and 85% for the WBC test.

How does the nitrite test relate to a UTI?
Certain bacteria change nitrate, found in most urines, to nitrite. If the nitrite test is positive, it means that you have bacteria in your urine. A common cause of increased bacteria in the urine is a UTI.

How does the WBC (leukocyte) test relate to a UTI?
WBCs (white blood cells) also called leukocytes, are produced by the body in response to the presence of an infection.

How should I store AZO Test Strips?
Store the closed bottle at room temperature (59°-86°F) and away from direct sunlight. Do not refrigerate. Do not remove the desiccant (drying) packet. Keep the cap tightly closed.

Can I use AZO Test Strips during my menstrual cycle?
This is not recommended because traces of menses can produce a false positive WBC result.

Can I use AZO Test Strips while taking AZO Standard or Pyridium?
AZO Standard and Pyridium contain Phenazopyridine Hydrochloride, an organic dye. This dye can make the test results harder to read.

Why is morning urine the best for testing?
Bacteria require time to convert nitrates to nitrites. Testing in the morning, assuming you have slept for at least four hours without urinating, allows the bacteria sufficient time to complete the conversion and provide a rich sample for testing.

What does a spotty result mean?
Most likely the urine sample test was contaminated. We recommend testing again, making sure the sample is clean and free of soap, vaginal discharge, menses or some other contaminant.

Why is there more than one possible color for a positive test result? Does a darker colored test result mean I have a more severe UTI?
No. Each person's body chemistry is unique and will create a different shade of color on the test pads.

Can men use AZO Test Strips?
Yes.

Do AZO Test Strips detect STDs, HIV, cancer, protein, yeast or sugar in the urine?
No, AZO Test Strips should not be used to identify anything other than the presence of WBCs and nitrites in the urine.

Can I obtain a urine sample from a diaper or a bed pad?
This is not recommended as you cannot be sure to obtain a sample free of contaminants.

Limits Of The Test:
Under certain conditions, you may get a negative result even though you have a UTI. If your infection is caused by bacteria that does not change nitrate to nitrite, or if your diet does not include nitrates, or if the urine has not been held in the bladder long enough (at least 4 hours), you will get a negative nitrite result. If there are only a small number of WBCs in the urine, you may get a negative WBC result.

i-Health Mission Statement

i-Health, Inc. is a unique health and wellness company committed to improving the lives of our consumers through innovative and effective Natural and Over the Counter consumer health products consistent with our values.

i-Health Values

Confidence: With confidence in proven abilities to succeed, we inspire others to share our passion for our market-leading brands and support our initiatives.

Excellence: We strive for excellence by establishing the highest standards of quality for our products and fostering a high performance culture throughout the organization.

Progressive: To flourish in a dynamic, environmentally responsible marketplace we focus on future possibilities through continuous improvement, a willingness to take risks, and embracing change.

Unified: By working together, sharing responsibility and decision-making, we multiply the creativity, talents, and contributions of individuals to better accomplish our common goals.