Confused about Infection

[BreadandHoneybees]

I went to the GP last week after suffering from low abdomen pain, a pain in my left side and painful groin area.
GP dipped my urine and it read straight away +++for infection.
I was given 7 days antibiotics and sent on my way. GP said she would send off urine and I could phone for results.
When I phoned the receptionist said there was no infection found and to see GP again if I still had symptoms.
I'm confused, how can the dipstick show +++infection but nothing in the lab?

There’s no dipstick test for infection. The dipstick only shows elements that could indicate a possible infection such as protein, blood, white blood cells.

The urine is sent away to see if they can grow any bacteria from it and, if that comes back negative, they conclude there’s no actual infection present.

Thanks for replying, oh what made the +++ then?
Although I feel much better (felt really sweaty and feverish before) I still have a 'niggle' in my left side. Antibiotics finished yesterday.

Depends on what it was +++ for. Sometimes the lab can fail to culture bacteria, but there’s still one present, especially if you’re getting symptoms. See how you get on and if you’re still feeling unwell you’ll need to submit another one.

Sometimes, if the infection has moved up into the kidneys, the urine from the bladder won’t culture anything, but you can still be ill. Kidney infection is more serious and needs different antibiotics, so keep an eye on it. Pain in the back and feverishness indicates a kidney infection.

Thanks knitted that's helpful, I had no pain on urinating, I was given Nitrofurantoin.