Clinical Evaluation of a Urine Transport Kit with Lyophilized Preservative for Culture, Urinalysis, and Sediment Microscopy

Abstract

Comparative results of urine culture, specific gravity, chemical urinalysis, and sediment microscopy were assessed when specimens submitted to the clinical laboratory were divided and processed either in a transport kit containing a lyophilized preservative or in a conventionalsterile cup without preservative. Overall agreement of results of 853 cultures after initial processing of samples in the laboratory was 98.7%. Results of 320 repeat cultures after a 24-hr holding period (preserved samples at room temperature, unpreserved samples refrigerated) and 277 repeat cultures after a 48-hr holding period also showed excellent agreement (99.1% and 95.7%, respectively). Results of urinalysis and sediment microscopy done an 370 specimens demonstrated greater than 98% agreement after receipt of specimens in the laboratory and greater than 94% agreement after the holding periods. Specific gravity determinations from samples processed in the presence of preservative consistently were 0.006-0.007 units greater than in samples processed without preservative, and a reporting adjustment will be necessary when the transport kit is used. I thank Drs. David Gocke and Paul Smilow for reviewing the manuscript, Judy Rothberg for technical assistance, Alissa Bernholz for assistance with data processing and analysis, and Janet Gross for secretarial support. This study was supported in part by a grant from Becton Dickinson Vacutainer Systems, Rutherford, New Jersey.