Bladder stones - Diagnosing bladder stones

If your GP suspects that you have a bladder stone, they will refer you to hospital for testing.

It is likely that you will first be given blood and urine tests. A blood test will detect if there is an infection inside the bladder.

Imaging tests

The next stage is to take an X-ray of your bladder. Not all types of bladder stones will show up clearly on X-rays, so a negative X-ray result does not always mean you do not have bladder stones.

An ultrasound scan may be used instead of an X-ray.

Cystoscopy

Abnormalities in the bladder can also be identified using a cystoscopy.

In this procedure, a thin, hollow viewing tube called a cystoscope is inserted into your urethra (the opening in the penis or vagina through which you urinate) to view the inside of your bladder.