Skip to main content
Journal of Clinical Microbiology logoLink to Journal of Clinical Microbiology
. 1992 Feb;30(2):342–345. doi: 10.1128/jcm.30.2.342-345.1992

Analyses of the FlashTrack DNA probe and UTIscreen bioluminescence tests for bacteriuria.

C Koenig 1, L J Tick 1, B A Hanna 1
PMCID: PMC265057  PMID: 1537903

Abstract

Five hundred urine specimens were selected at random and screened for bacteriuria by a DNA probe method, FlashTrack (Gen-Probe, San Diego, Calif.), and an automated bioluminescence method, UTIscreen (Los Alamos Diagnostics, Los Alamos, N.M.), and the results were compared with those of the semiquantitative plate culture method. The performance of each test versus culturing was evaluated at colony counts of greater than or equal to 10(4), greater than or equal to 5 x 10(4), and greater than or equal to 10(5) CFU/ml. Since the interpretive breakpoint of each test was user selectable, the results were reported as receiver operator characteristic curves. Optimum interpretive breakpoints were determined for each test at each colony count by calculating a performance index that emphasized sensitivity over specificity in a 70:30 ratio. Although both tests had less-than-optimal sensitivities and specificities, the performance of FlashTrack was significantly better than that of UTIscreen at two of the three colony counts (10(4) and 10(5) CFU/ml); however, FlashTrack costs more and is a labor-intensive procedure. Neither method was evaluated for the detection of colony counts of less than 10(4) CFU/ml.

Full text

PDF
344

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Drow D. L., Baum C. H., Hirschfield G. Comparison of the Lumac and Monolight systems for detection of bacteriuria by bioluminescence. J Clin Microbiol. 1984 Oct;20(4):797–801. doi: 10.1128/jcm.20.4.797-801.1984. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Hanna B. A. Detection of bacteriurea by bioluminescence. Methods Enzymol. 1986;133:22–27. doi: 10.1016/0076-6879(86)33052-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Johnson J. R., Stamm W. E. Urinary tract infections in women: diagnosis and treatment. Ann Intern Med. 1989 Dec 1;111(11):906–917. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-111-11-906. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Lewis J. F., Alexander J. Microscopy of stained urine smears to determine the need for quantitative culture. J Clin Microbiol. 1976 Oct;4(4):372–374. doi: 10.1128/jcm.4.4.372-374.1976. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Murray P. R., Smith T. B., McKinney T. C., Jr Clinical evaluation of three urine screening tests. J Clin Microbiol. 1987 Mar;25(3):467–470. doi: 10.1128/jcm.25.3.467-470.1987. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Pezzlo M. T., Ige V., Woolard A. P., Peterson E. M., de la Maza L. M. Rapid bioluminescence method for bacteriuria screening. J Clin Microbiol. 1989 Apr;27(4):716–720. doi: 10.1128/jcm.27.4.716-720.1989. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Pezzlo M. T., Tan G. L., Peterson E. M., de la Maza L. M. Screening of urine cultures by three automated systems. J Clin Microbiol. 1982 Mar;15(3):468–474. doi: 10.1128/jcm.15.3.468-474.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Pfaller M. A., Koontz F. P. Laboratory evaluation of leukocyte esterase and nitrite tests for the detection of bacteriuria. J Clin Microbiol. 1985 May;21(5):840–842. doi: 10.1128/jcm.21.5.840-842.1985. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. SANFORD J. P., FAVOUR C. B., MAO F. H., HARRISON J. H. Evaluation of the positive urine culture; an approach to the differentiation of significant bacteria from contaminants. Am J Med. 1956 Jan;20(1):88–93. doi: 10.1016/0002-9343(56)90175-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Stamey T. A., Pfau A. Urinary infections: a selective review and some observations. Calif Med. 1970 Dec;113(6):16–35. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Stamm W. E., Counts G. W., Running K. R., Fihn S., Turck M., Holmes K. K. Diagnosis of coliform infection in acutely dysuric women. N Engl J Med. 1982 Aug 19;307(8):463–468. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198208193070802. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Stamm W. E., Counts G. W., Running K. R., Fihn S., Turck M., Holmes K. K. Diagnosis of coliform infection in acutely dysuric women. N Engl J Med. 1982 Aug 19;307(8):463–468. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198208193070802. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Stark R. P., Maki D. G. Bacteriuria in the catheterized patient. What quantitative level of bacteriuria is relevant? N Engl J Med. 1984 Aug 30;311(9):560–564. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198408303110903. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Thore A., Lundin A., Anséhn S. Firefly luciferase ATP assay as a screening method for bacteriuria. J Clin Microbiol. 1983 Feb;17(2):218–224. doi: 10.1128/jcm.17.2.218-224.1983. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Wallis C., Melnick J. L., Longoria C. J. Colorimetric method for rapid determination of bacteriuria. J Clin Microbiol. 1981 Sep;14(3):342–346. doi: 10.1128/jcm.14.3.342-346.1981. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Clinical Microbiology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES