Microscopy to select urine specimens that will not yield significant growth
Baker, J.L.; Hayward, N.J.
Medical Laboratory Sciences 44(1): 45-49
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0308-3616 PMID: 3309531 Document Number: 288400
Centrifuged sediments of 1000 urine specimens re-suspended in one tenth the original volume of urine were examined microscopically both unstained and, for a maximum of 30 sec as Gram-stained smears, in parallel with examination by hospital laboratory culture. It was possible to establish criteria, based on the concentrations of polymorphonuclear leucocytes seen in unstained preparations and of microorganisms seen in stained preparations, by which 70% of specimens could have been screened as negative within 1h. Some negative specimens would have been included as positive, but there would have been no false-negatives.