TABLE 1.

Body-of-evidence table for clinical question 1, namely, “what is the difference in colony counts when comparing immediate and delayed (≥4 h) processing of fresh urine stored at room temperature after collection?”^a

Study (reference), quality rating	Samples	Setting	Time period	Results
Hindman et al. (30), fair	100 random samples of urine were cultured within 2 h of collection and then again after 2 h and 4 h of storage at room temp.	Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT	Not given	SG was defined as any growth of >105 CFU/ml. All other growth was considered NSG. Upon receipt, there were 47 SG and 53 NSG specimens. After 4 h, there were 51 SG and 49 NSG specimens.
Lum and Meers (31), fair	175 clean-catch urine samples were divided, and one portion was treated with boric acid at a concn of 20 g/liter and the other held in a sterile tube. All samples were cultured upon receipt in the laboratory and again after 4 h, 24 h, and 48 h of storage at room temp.	Microbiology Department, University of Singapore, Kent Ridge, Singapore	6 mo	SG was defined as ≥105 CFU/ml of 1 or 2 species. All other growth was considered NSG. Upon receipt, there were 38 SG and 137 NSG specimens. At 4 h, there were 42 SG and 133 NSG specimens. At 24 h, there were 90 SG and 82 NSG specimens. At 48 h, there were 109 SG and 66 NSG specimens.
Porter and Brodie (28), fair	130 midstream urine specimens that had been collected in sterile tubes and kept at room temp or preserved with 0.5 g of boric acid were mailed to a laboratory and cultured immediately upon receipt (avg delay of 24 h before receipt) and again at 72 h after receipt.	Laboratory, City Hospital, Aberdeen, Scotland	Not given	SG was defined as any growth of >105 CFU/ml. All other growth was considered NSG. Upon receipt, there were 40 SG and 90 NSG specimens. After 72 h, there were 93 SG and 37 NSG specimens.

^aSG, significant growth; NSG, nonsignificant growth.