MCS and MSU are two types of laboratory urine tests. Urine tests analyze urine specimens given by patients. They are used to detect and manage a wide range of disorders, such as urinary tract infections, kidney disease, and diabetes.
The key difference between MCS and MSU is their function. MCS helps to isolate microorganisms causing infections in the body and deduce the right drug to kill those isolated organisms, while MSU helps to confirm the diagnosis of a urine infection, decide the best antibiotic to use, and look for other abnormalities in the urine.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is MCS
3. What is MSU
4. Similarities – MCS and MSU
5. MCS vs MSU in Tabular Form
6. Summary – MCS vs MSU
7. FAQ – MCS and MSU
What is MCS?
MCS (microscopy, culture, and sensitivity) is a laboratory urine test that analyses urine specimens for bacteria, fungi, or parasites causing infections in the body while deducing the appropriate drug to kill those isolated organisms. It uses two techniques: microscopy and culturing. Microscopy gives an overview of the functions of various body parts associated with urine production, whereas culturing helps detect bacteria and fungi in urine.
MCS test is more common in females than males. Anyone suspicious of a urinary tract infection can come for a urine culture or MCS test. Patients can collect an early morning clean catch urine to submit to the laboratory for microscopy and culture. The traditional urine culture (MCS) test takes at least 3 – 5 days to generate the results.
What MSU?
MSU (mid-stream urine test) is mainly used to check for infection. However, it can also help to check other abnormalities, such as blood or protein in the urine. These abnormalities can be detected by other tests, such as the urine dipstick test. The full result of an MSU takes 2-7 days. This test may also use microscopy and culturing. However, it uses biochemical assays to test leukocytes, erythrocytes, and epithelial cells in the urine.
MSU tests can be taken by anyone, including men, women, and children. Furthermore, MSU tests can also be used to detect disorders such as bladder cancer, kidney disease, and tuberculosis.
Similarities Between MCS and MSU
- MCS and MSU are two types of laboratory urine tests.
- Both tests need clear catch urine for testing.
- Microscopy and culturing may be involved in both tests.
- Both tests can be used to detect urinary tract infections.
- These tests are cheap laboratory tests.
Difference Between MCS and MSU
Definition
- MCS is a laboratory urine test that isolates infectious bacteria, fungi, or parasites in urine while deducing the appropriate drug to kill those isolated organisms.
- MSU is a laboratory urine test to confirm infections, decide the best antibiotic to use, and look for other abnormalities in the urine.
Who Can Take It
- MCS tests are taken mainly by women, and men are less likely to take them.
- MSU tests can be taken by anyone – men, women, and children.
Specimen Collection
- The specimen can be collected using a urine bag and catheter urine suprapubic aspiration in the MCS test.
- The specimen can be collected by using the clean catch method, urine pads, and urine collection bags in the MSU test.
Availability of Results
- MCS test takes at least 3 – 5 days to generate results.
- MSU test takes at least 2-7 days to generate results.
Diagnosis
- MCS tests can be used to diagnose UTIs and other infections.
- MSU tests can be used to diagnose UTI, bladder cancer, kidney disease, and tuberculosis.
Cost
- MCS test costs around $13.70.
- MSU test costs around $35.00.
The following table summarizes the difference between MCS and MSU.
Summary – MCS vs MSU
Urine tests are used to find the cause of urinary tract infections and kidney or liver disease. There are different types of urine tests, such as urine dipstick, MCS, and MSU. MCS and MSU are two types of laboratory urine tests. MCS isolates infectious bacteria, fungi, or parasites in urine while deducing the right drug to kill those isolated organisms, whereas MSU confirms infections, decides the best antibiotic to use, and looks for other abnormalities in the urine. This is the main difference between MCS and MSU.
FAQ: MCS and MSU
1. What causes urinary tract infections?
- UTIs occur when the urinary tract becomes infected by bacteria. In most cases, bacteria such as E.coli and Proteus mirabilis from the gut enter the urinary tract through the urethra. This may happen when wiping the bottom or having sex.
2. What are the 3 parts of urinalysis?
- A complete urinalysis consists of three main components: physical, chemical, and microscopic. Physical examination tests the volume, color, clarity, odor, and specific gravity of urine, while chemical examination tests pH, red blood cells, white blood cells, proteins, and glucose in urine. The microscopical examination tests the casts, cells, crystals, and microorganisms in urine.
3. What does MCS mean in a urine test?
- A urine culture or MCS is a laboratory test that analyses urine specimens, isolating microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, or parasites that cause infections in the body while deducing the specific drug to kill those isolated organisms.
4. What does urinating in the midstream mean?
- This is a urine sample that does not collect the first or last part of the urine that comes out from the genitals. This is done to reduce the risk of the urine sample being contaminated with microorganisms from the hands or around the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body.
5. What is MSU positive?
- Urine is normally sterile. MSU positive means bacteria is present, which means there is an infection. A midstream urine (MSU) sample is used to confirm a diagnosis of a urine infection and to determine the best antibiotics to prescribe to treat this infection.
Reference:
1. “Patient Information Midstream Urine Sample (MSU).” Enherts.
2. “Urine Culture (MCS).” Everight Diagnostic & Laboratory Services Ltd.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Urinalysis collage” By User:Spicy User:Stevenfruitsmaak User:Bobjgalindo (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Monovette” By Whispyhistory (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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