[Point-of-care devices and testing methods in urinalysis for detection of bacteriuria in dogs and cats]

In addition to the culture methods perfomed in commercial laboratories, point-of-care tests (POC tests) are available for the assessment of bacteriuria in dogs and cats. This article provides an overview of the POC tests currently used to detect bacteriuria in veterinary medicine. Manual urine sediment analysis is a cost-effective method for the detection of bacteria, but there is no clear standardization. Devices for automated urine sediment analysis require visual follow-up by the user, which is essential to correctly identify bacteria. RapidBacVet, a lateral flow immunoassay, enables rapid detection of bacteria in the urine - but without the possibility of differentiation. Culture tests allow bacteria to be grown and tested for sensitivity to antibiotics. However, these methods are limited in cases of mixed infections or specific resistance testing. A chromogenic culture test such as UTid+provides rapid diagnosis of bacteriuria, but does not allow for the quantification of bacterial growth. Accutest Uriscreen, a catalase-based rapid test, detects bacteriuria and pyuria with high sensitivity, but requires a large sample volume of urine. This article highlights the strengths and weaknesses of each POC test and describes how these may contribute to more efficient diagnostics and improved treatment selection in small animal practice.