Evaluation of a leukocyte dip-stick test used for screening urine cultures

A 2-min leukocyte esterase dip-stick test for pyuria was used to screen 409 consecutive clinical specimens received for culture. The leukocyte esterase dip-stick test proved to be a sensitive and inexpensive means of screening urine specimens for the absence of leukocytes and, by inference, for the absence of significant bacteruria.