Beyond the Symptoms | An Expert Interview Series by LUF | Live UTI Free
Beyond the Symptoms is an interview series by Live UTI Free (LUF) that explores the science, solutions, and stories behind pelvic health, UTIs, and chronic urinary infections.
Host Melissa Kramer engages in deep conversations with leading medical experts, researchers, and healthcare innovators who share breakthrough insights beyond conventional diagnoses and treatments.
Each episode uncovers cutting-edge research on biofilms, embedded infections, antibiotic resistance, and innovative diagnostic approaches while examining how these conditions impact quality of life. Whether you're a patient navigating recurrent UTIs, interstitial cystitis, or chronic pelvic pain, a healthcare practitioner seeking evidence-based approaches, or a curious mind interested in women's health advocacy, this podcast provides actionable information about complex pelvic health conditions.
Episodes feature world-renowned urologists, urogynecologists, researchers, and patient advocates sharing clinical insights and practical strategies.
Explore our comprehensive resources at liveutifree.com, find additional studies at linktr.ee/liveutifree, watch video interviews on YouTube (@LiveUTIFree), and join our supportive community on Instagram (@liveutifree).
Beyond the Symptoms | An Expert Interview Series by LUF | Live UTI Free
Understanding UTI Testing Options | Dr. Nicholas Sanford with Live UTI Free (LUF)
Host Melissa Kramer interviews Dr. Nicholas Sanford, Vice President of Medical Affairs and Assistant Laboratory Director at MicroGenDX, to explore how advanced molecular testing is transforming the landscape of UTI diagnosis. If you’ve ever had UTI symptoms but were told your test was “negative,” this episode explains why standard tests like dipsticks and cultures often miss infections—and what other options are available.
Dr. Sanford shares how MicroGenDX’s qPCR + NGS testing approach offers greater sensitivity and faster results, even detecting bacteria in biofilms or deep within bladder tissue. With over a million urological samples processed, their data is helping shape better care for patients with chronic and recurrent UTIs.
Key Takeaways:
- Learn why cultures and dipsticks can fail, especially for those with chronic symptoms, and how molecular methods pick up what others miss.
- Gain a clear understanding of how this dual method operates, including the detection of resistance genes and biofilm-related infections.
- Understand how to collect your sample properly, why your partner may need testing too, and what to know about testing after antibiotics.
Want to learn more about urinary health? Visit LiveUTIFree.com for expert articles on the latest research, or check out our YouTube channel for a video format.
