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Published on: March 10, 2020
Variability in urine culture reporting by Canadian microbiology laboratories
1Clinical Microbiology Proficiency Testing, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia.
Summary
Microbiology labs show varied reporting for urine colony counts, with many not using standardized International System (SI) units. This inconsistency may cause confusion in interpreting results.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Microbiology
- Laboratory Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Accurate urine colony counts are crucial for diagnosing urinary tract infections.
- Standardized reporting ensures consistent interpretation of laboratory results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the capability of clinical microbiology laboratories in performing and reporting urine colony counts.
- To evaluate the consistency of reporting practices against established standards.
Main Methods:
- A proficiency testing program distributed simulated urine samples to participating laboratories.
- Laboratories were instructed to perform standard urine culture tests and report their findings.
- Reporting consistency was evaluated against the SI Manual in Health Care, 2nd edition.
Main Results:
- A significant variation in units for reporting urine colony counts was observed.
- 87.2% of laboratories reported quantitative results, but in diverse unit styles.
- While most used variations of SI units, some reported metric units or lacked specified units.
Conclusions:
- Many clinical microbiology laboratories have not adopted uniform International System (SI) units for reporting quantitative urine culture results.
- The lack of standardized reporting units poses a risk of misinterpretation and clinical confusion.
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