Finding Blood in Urine: A Testing Guide for Males Using MdxHealth

Finding blood in your urine, as a male, is disconcerting. Common UTI symptoms in males — frequency, urgency and burning, to name a few —  are also known symptoms of prostate cancer. This means it can be difficult to determine the cause of male urinary symptoms, or what testing may be needed.

But the link doesn’t end there. Those with a history of UTI may be more at risk for developing prostate cancer. Additionally, those with prostate cancer or bladder outlet obstructions are more at risk for developing UTIs.

As always, more research is needed into this possible connection, which is why it can be important to identify the cause of lower urinary tract symptoms in males. By utilizing molecular testing for prostate cancer or UTI in males, you and your clinician can more accurately identify the cause of blood in urine and other UTI symptoms.

Quick links

• Tests for Blood in Urine in Males  >>>>
• Advanced Molecular Tests for Prostate Cancer >>>>
• Advanced Susceptibility Testing for UTI  >>>>
• Clear Reporting  >>>>

Mdxhealth is a precision diagnostics company offering molecular diagnostic tests. Their reporting also aids in personalizing the diagnosis and treatment recommendations for UTI and prostate cancer. Their suite of UTI and prostate cancer testing options are based on proprietary genetic, epigenetic, and other complex molecular technologies.

While Mdxhealth does not offer their UTI test, Resolve mdx, as part of a prostate cancer pathway, their range of tests can assist your clinician in determining a cause of lower urinary tract symptoms.

The tests are highly accurate. This means that males who are experiencing blood in urine, or other prostate or lower urinary tract symptoms, are not only provided with information to make an accurate diagnosis, but corresponding treatment recommendations as well. 

For male patients who have discovered blood in their urine, and may be experiencing frequency, urgency and burning, there are a number of different tests available in order to determine the cause. 

The first course of action is an enhanced UTI test, such as Resolve mdx. This is an advanced UTI test that utilizes PCR technology to identify the pathogens as well as antibiotic resistance genes. As part of this test, proprietary ASTX™ susceptibility testing can determine what antibiotics may be effective against your infection. This enables a personalized treatment recommendation to treat your specific infection if a UTI is detected.  

Organisms Resolve mdx can detect:

"Some microorganisms' growth depends upon specific conditions. Ultimately, PCR detects viable and nonviable organisms, and in patients with chronic infections, detecting pathogens at low concentrations may help guide therapy." Joao Paulo Zambon, MD, PhD — Sr. Medical Science Liaison, Mdxhealth

Mdxhealth also has a menu of advanced molecular tests to help assess your risk for aggressive prostate cancer. Due to the significant overlap in UTI and prostate cancer symptoms, utilizing enhanced testing methods may be beneficial in helping to identify the cause of lower urinary tract symptoms.

Select mdx for Prostate Cancer is a highly predictive urine test that helps identify males at risk for aggressive prostate cancer. This test takes place before initial biopsy. Non-Invasive and convenient, this advanced urine test returns a 95% negative predictive value (NPV). Put simply, this means that if the test identifies a very low risk of prostate cancer, you and your physician can be 95% sure you do not have aggressive prostate cancer. Because of this, it is a lot less likely that you would require a biopsy.

Beyond Standard Biopsy Testing

Beyond standard biopsy is Confirm mdx for Prostate Cancer. This is a tissue test that works at the DNA level to help identify undetected cancers. The test is able to detect abnormal DNA changes associated with the presence of prostate cancer. These changes cannot be seen by the standard microscopic evaluation traditionally used by pathologists to screen prostate biopsies.

This test improves the identification of males at risk for undetected, clinically significant, prostate cancer after a negative biopsy, with a 96% NPV for high-grade cancer.

If a positive prostate cancer diagnosis occurs, the Genomic Prostate Score® Test is a genomic assay designed for males with low-, intermediate-, and high-risk localized prostate cancer to analyze prostate cancer gene activity and help guide treatment decisions.

For those in the US, Select mdx and Confirm mdx for prostate cancer are both available within all states. Genomic Prostate Score® is available in all states, except for New York. Resolve mdx is also available nationwide, except for New York.

For European patients, Select mdx for Prostate Cancer and Genomic Prostate Score® Test are available.  

Resolve mdx, Mdxhealth’s UTI test, goes beyond accurate detection. In addition to identifying pathogens and detecting antibiotic resistance genes via PCR technology, it also uses a distinct susceptibility testing method called ASTX™. This method tests a variety of antibiotics against all the pathogens in a sample. 

This form of susceptibility testing is an enhancement of standard AST, in which a single organism from a sample is tested against various antibiotics. This limitation of standard AST can result in less informed treatment guidance. 

With ASTX™, various antimicrobials are tested against the patient specimen to determine which antibiotics will work against the organisms causing the infection. This truly customized service results in a single antibiotic treatment recommendation that can be used to treat the entire infection, even in cases where multiple pathogens are causing the infection.

"Better detection of organisms and resistance genes allows us to tailor recommendations to the individual patient. However, this does not help us unless we perform susceptibility tests, as susceptibility testing is going to show which antibiotics will treat the patient’s infection. By adding all three of these pieces together, we have created a test that truly identifies the pathogens present, and gives doctors accurate recommendations on which antibiotics to prescribe." Ericka Bagi BSN, RN - Senior Medical Science Liaison, Mdxhealth

The Resolve mdx antibiotic panel tests a urine sample against the following antibiotics:

In addition to ASTX™, Resolve mdx UTI test also tests for six different classes of Resistance Genes: MRSA (Methicillin Resistance), VRE (Vancomycin Resistance), ESBL (Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase), CRE (Carbapenems Resistance), Fluoroquinolones, and Trimethoprim.  

Incorporated into Mdxhealth’s patient-centric approach are swift turnaround times. In cases where pathogens are detected, results and susceptibility reporting are communicated within 48 hours. While negative tests are returned within 24 hours.

They provide easy-to-read reports that empower clinicians to make informed treatment decisions alongside you. Logical and clear, the report begins with a summary before expanding into more detailed findings below. 

"Being able to detect multiple pathogens leads to the correct treatment protocol to eradicate an infection. Identifying the right pathogens the first time leads to fewer treatment failures, cost containment, antibiotic stewardship, less negative outcomes such as C. Diff from multiple use of antibiotics, and better patient outcomes." Ashley Mitchell FNP-C, Medical Science Liason, Mdxhealth

The summary first lists any pathogens detected, antimicrobial resistance genes, then treatment options.  

Once the summary has been reviewed, you and your clinician will find the Patient Susceptibility Report. This table shows the organisms detected and the susceptibility results of each antibiotic from the ASTX™ test. Supportive evidence from the Sanford Guide — a globally recognised infectious diseases treatment reference — is also included. Susceptibility is indicated as S (sensitive), I (intermediate), or R (resistant) meaning informed treatment recommendations can be made. 

The Mdxhealth Patient Experience

Helping improve patient outcomes is high on Mdxhealth’s list of priorities, so they’re continuously seeking to improve tests based on clinical data and evidence. The patient experience is also something they strive to excel at. Their internal customer support program, Xpert One, is designed to deliver personal attention, swift responsiveness, and overall customer satisfaction.

This dedication to the patient experience extends to their resources being created in an accessible, easy to understand format for patients specifically. They even provide doctor discussion guides to empower you to achieve the best possible experience during your appointments. 

They’ve also made a commitment to offering a patient-friendly billing policy, the Patient First Promise, which ensures tests are accessible and affordable for all patients. If a patient is facing financial challenges, they’re encouraged to contact an Mdxhealth patient advocate and select Insurance & Billing. A patient advocate will help them find the right assistance options.

If you are a male who has discovered blood in your urine — or is experiencing frequency, urgency and burning — talk to your clinician about ordering a Resolve mdx UTI test or one of Mdxhealth’s prostate cancer screening tests. If your clinician is not already utilizing these tests, they can reach out to Mdxhealth to learn more.

Resolve UTI, and Mdxhealth’s full suite of tests, are covered by Medicare, Medicaid, VA, and private insurances, including Kaiser Permanente. Mdxhealth works directly with the insurance provider to coordinate coverage. They’re committed to ensuring their tests are affordable and accessible through insurance for those who need them. 

For questions about insurance, or if wanting to discuss financial options, you are encouraged to contact the Mdxhealth Patient Advocate Team through their website or by emailing patientfirst@mdxhealth.com to find the right assistance options.

For all other patient or clinician enquiries, contact Mdxhealth.

This article was written in collaboration with Mdxhealth. Clinicians or patients seeking information are encouraged to visit the Mdxhealth website, while those wishing to make contact can do so via email.