Effect of the B-D Urine Culture Kit on an automated bacteriuria screen

The effect of urine collected in the B-D Urine Culture Kit (BDT; Becton, Dickinson & Co., Rutherford, N.J.) on the Autobac urine screen (General Diagnostics, Warner-Lambert Co., Morris Plains, N.J.) was investigated. Upon collection, 1,000 clean-voided urine specimens were divided into sterile urine tubes and BDTs. Within 24 h of collection, urine from each tube was cultured by a semiquantitative plate method and screened by the Autobac system. Overall, when screened by the Autobac system, urine collected in the BDT gave fewer false-positive results: 14.4 compared with 22.7% from the sterile urine tubes. However, in comparison with the sterile urine tubes, the BDT false-negative rate was 10.5 versus 4.7%, the detection time was longer, and the cost was increased.