A Rapid Screening Test of Bacteria and Cells in Urine with the Catalase Activity

Abstract

A rapid screening test for urinary tract infection by detecting minute increase of leukocyte, erythrocyte, or bacteria in urine specimens examnined is reported. By determining the cellular catalase activeity on the dissociation of H2O and formation of gaseous O2 which makes urine specimens foamy in only two minutes, we had examined 124 urine specimens, and compared the results with those of urine quantitative cultures and microscopic urinalyses. If we define UTI as positive urine quantitative cultrue (＞105 CFU/ml), the sensitivity, specificity, false positive rate and false negative rate of the catalase test were 85.7%, 65.2%,50.8%, and 7.9% respectively; whereas, those for specimens containing one or in combination of the significant bacteriuria (colony count＞105 CFU/ml), pyuria (＞5 WBC’s/HPF), and hematuria (＞5 RBC’s / HPF) were 84.1%,94.5%,4.9%,17.5% respectively. It is not only representing the presence of significant bacteriuria, but also hematuria or pyuria when a positive catalase reation is reported. The catalase screening test is easy to perform to detect the urothelial inflammation and is useful in large scale mass screening project for a symptomless population.