Rapid bacteriuria screening in a urological setting: clinical use

The clinical use of a commercially available semiautomated bacteriuria screening device was evaluated in a urological setting. The 1,300 consecutive urine specimens processed by the device were contrasted with results of standard semiquantitative culture. A small number (2 per cent) were screened unsuccessfully owing to a clogged filter. With greater than 10(5) colony-forming units per ml. the sensitivity of the device was 91 per cent but it was only 81 per cent with bacteriuria levels greater than 10(4) colony-forming units per ml. More importantly, the predictive value of a negative test was 99 per cent with more than 10(5) colony-forming units per ml. and 96 per cent with more than 10(4) colony-forming units per ml. This capability promotes safe urological instrumentation and timely patient care.