Hi Natalie. If your urine shows positive for nitrates there is evidence of a UTI. BUT, sometimes your negative but still have bacteria. This is why they are more than likely waiting. Want to know something even more strange? Jim is positive for nitrates and leukocytes and no outward symptoms. He's colonized with ecoli but since he's having no symptoms they are not treating it. He is on Macrobid for prevention of other bacteria though.

It takes three days for a culture to grow. Sometimes earlier if the bacteria is particulary strong.