The role of dipsticks in the diagnosis of urinary tract infection
Murphy, L.C.; Keane, C.T.; Rees, J.P.
Irish Medical Journal 82(2): 74-76
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0332-3102 PMID: 2759829 Document Number: 339816
Dipsticks containing indicators for the presence of leucocytes (nephur test) and bacteria (nitrate test) were performed on 1134 urine samples obtained from children attending a Urinary Tract Infection Clinic. These dipstick results were compared with the results of standard leucocyte counts and culture of the same urines. The nitrite test was disappointing in diagnosing infection as it was positive in only 81.4% of urines with positive cultures. However, if it was combined with a nephur test only 3.9% of infections were missed. Conversely a positive nitrite test indicated with 91.3% accuracy that the urine was infected. Combined negative nephur and nitrite tests were 98.6% accurate in excluding urinary tract infection.