Home urine cultures by the dip-strip method: results in 289 cultures

Bacteriuria screening on 289 children was performed by their parents by means of a self-administered dip-strip culture which was inoculated, incubated, and interpreted in the home. Simultaneous pour-plate quantitative cultures and laboratory-tested dip-strip cultures were done on the same urine specimen which had been tested at home. The dip-strip culture was reliable (89%) in detecting significant bacteriuria with home administration and interpretation. Only 1.6% false-positive results occurred in the home testing. The dip-strip home cultures are an effective way for screening or follow-up of patients with bacteriuria.