Evaluation of new urinary tract infection screening devices

Several new methods for detection of bacteriuria were studied to evaluate their usefulness as screening procedures. A new filter paper device incorporating dehydrated media and tetrazolium was found to be reliable when compared with the standard pour plate method in the laboratory and with the dip-slide method in a field test. It failed to detect yeasts and slowly growing streptococci. Antibiotics blocked the test when susceptible organisms were present. An agar-cup method was found to be quite reliable, but could be improved by use of differential media. The Griess test was confirmed in a small trial to be highly specific when used in conjunction with a first morning specimen, but of little value with random specimens. Phenzopyridine was found to give false positive reactions. The subnormal glucose test, although highly sensitive and specific, gave too many false positive tests to be useful other than as a screening method.