Reagent strip testing of antenatal urine specimens for infection.
OBJECTIVE
To compare reagent strip testing (RST) with microscopy and culture in identifying significant bacteriuria, and secondly, to consider potential cost savings if RST screening proved to be reliable.


METHODS
Prospective descriptive study.


METHODS
Antenatal Clinic, Bristol Maternity Hospital.


METHODS
Eight hundred and ninety-eight women having urine testing in pregnancy for microscopy and culture either routinely or because of a clinical infection.


METHODS
The midstream specimens of urine had RST examination using Ames Multistix 8SG prior to being sent to the laboratory.


METHODS
Significant culture (> 10(5) colonies/ml) of a single organism in culture.


RESULTS
The highest predictive value for a negative result of the urine culture (99.7%) was obtained when using four RSTs in combination. The RST for nitrite had a high predictive value for a positive urine culture (90%). The samples which gave a false negative result with RST screening were mainly infected with low grade urinary pathogens or genital tract contaminants.


CONCLUSIONS
RST screening for bacteriuria provides a reliable and cheap alternative to culture of all urine specimens.
Etherington
I J
IJ
St. Michael's Hospital, Bristol.
James
D K
DK
D001437:Bacteriuria / Q000382:microbiology / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology / Q000652:urine*; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011934:Reagent Strips; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D011934:Reagent Strips