Dip-Slide: An Aid to Quantitative Urine Culture in General Practice

Abstract

A dip-inoculum transport medium for the diagnosis of significant bacteriuria is described, consisting of a microscope slide coated with culture media. Laboratory and clinical testing shows the dip-slide to give consistent quantitative results which compare well with pour-plate viable counting. The dip-slide enables ready differentiation between heavy contamination of urine specimens and genuine infection. In a series of 385 specimens no false-negative results were obtained, and there was an insignificant number of false-positive cultures. The dip-slide is recommended whenever there is likely to be delay in delivery of urine specimens to the laboratory. It is particularly useful in general practice if specimens have to be sent by post. Owing to the ease of inoculation and reading it is also suited to the routine screening of large numbers of specimens such as at antenatal clinics. © 1967, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.