Urine microscopy on a counting chamber for diagnosis of urinary infection

Several quantitative methods of urine microscopic examination for bacteriuria and pyuria on a blood cell counting-chamber have been found reliable for the diagnosis of urinary tract infection (UTI). However, no one technique has become popular or widely used because of laborious procedures associated with the method. We investigated the usefulness of microscopic examination of uncentrifuged urine on disposable counting-chambers. A total of 89 urine samples were obtained from 53 children (24 male and 29 female). Urine samples were examined for bacteriuria and pyuria using a disposable counting chamber and its reliability was analyzed in predicting significant bacteriuria defined by routine urine culture. Significant bacteriuria was diagnosed in 23 of 89 urine samples by urine culture. Microscopic urine examination on disposable counting-chambers was very easy without the need to set up or wash chambers and provided immediate information. Urine bacterial concentration determined by the counting-chamber method was closely correlated to that determined by bacterial culture. The counting-chamber method identified bacteriuria correctly in 21 of 23 urine samples diagnosed as significant bacteriuria (sensitivity = 91%) and also gave a correct diagnosis of 64 of 66 urine samples with non-significant bacteriuria (specificity = 98%). Nineteen of the 23 urine samples with significant bacteriuria also had pyuria. The positive predictive value of concomitant bacteriuria and pyuria was 100%. When neither bacteriuria nor pyuria was found, the negative predictive value was 100%. It was concluded that urine microscopy using disposable counting chambers was very easy, inexpensive, quick and reliable and thus an extremely useful method for diagnosing UTI.