Inability of the Chemstrip LN compared with quantitative urine culture to predict significant bacteriuria

The Chemstrip LN (Boehringer Mannheim Biochemicals, Indianapolis, Ind.), designed to detect pyuria and bacteriuria, was compared with culture of 1,020 unselected, consecutive midstream urine specimens and evaluated on its ability to predict colony counts at three levels. At the level of greater than or equal to 10(5) CFU/ml, the combined test (detection of leukocyte esterase and nitrite) had sensitivity of 82.3%, specificity of 67.9%, positive predictive value of 41.3%, and negative predictive value of 93.3% at prevalence rate of 21.6%. The test would have rejected 9.4% of the specimens with significant bacteriuria if the Chemstrip alone had been used.