A novel, convenient, multiple test system for detection of bacteriuria.

A novel, convenient, multiple test system for the detection of bacteriuria is described and evaluated. The system consists of a small plastic strip with three dry reagent areas. One rapidly detects the presence of nitrite in urine and the remaining two quantitate total and gram-negative bacterial urine population after 18 to 24 hours of incubation. Quantitative accuracy was evaluated in two blind studies. In the first, known concentrations of 18 different organisms were compared and in the second, unknown concentrations of 218 randomly collected urine specimens were quantitated by both the calibrated loop streak method the new system. Overall correlation was 96 per cent for growth reagent areas. The nitrite area detected 84 per cent of the urines positive for bacteriuria. The advantages of the system over conventional bacteriuria detection systems are described.