Table 2.
Sensitivity and specificity of urinary dipstick (leucocyte esterase and nitrite) and microscopy (white blood cells and bacteria) for diagnosis of urinary tract infection (adapted with permission from Williams GJ)9
| Test | Sensitivity % ( range) | Specificity % ( range) |
|---|---|---|
| Leucocyte esterase | 79 (73‐84) | 87 (80‐92) |
| Nitrite | 49 (41‐57) | 98 (96‐99) |
| Leucocyte esterase or nitrite positive | 88 (82‐91) | 79 (69‐87) |
| Both leucocyte esterase and nitrite positive | 45 (30‐61) | 98 (96‐99) |
| Microscopy: white blood cells | 74 (67‐80) | 86 (82‐90) |
| Microscopy: unstained bacteria | 88 (75‐94) | 92 (83‐96) |
| Microscopy: Gram stain | 91 (80‐96) | 96 (92‐98) |