Information for the public
NICE has said there’s not enough evidence to recommend rapid point-of-care tests for suspected urinary tract infections in NHS primary or community care settings. So, the following tests should only be used in research:
- Astrego PA-100 analyser with the PA AST panel U-0501 (Sysmex Astrego)
- Uriscreen (Savyon Diagnostics).
These tests show promise, but more research is needed on how well the tests work and how they affect decisions about antibiotic prescribing.
NICE has said that culture-based point-of-care tests are not recommended for suspected urinary tract infections in NHS primary or community care settings. The tests are:
- Diaslide, DipStreak and ChromoStreak (Novamed)
- Flexicult Human (SSI Diagnostica)
- Uricult, Uricult trio and Uricult plus (Aidian).
These tests are not expected to give results quickly enough to improve antibiotic prescribing in these settings.
If you have symptoms of a urinary tract infection, point-of-care tests can be used during your appointment to test your urine to see if you do have an infection. If you do, some tests can identify which bacteria are causing it and help healthcare professionals decide which antibiotic would be best to treat it. Rapid point-of-care tests can take up to 40 minutes for a result and culture-based tests usually take around 16 to 24 hours.
You might be asked if details of your treatment can be collected as evidence. You can ask your healthcare professional for more information about being involved and how your information will be stored and used.
Is this treatment right for me?
Your healthcare professionals should give you clear information, talk with you about your options and listen carefully to your views and concerns. Your family can be involved too, if you wish. See our webpage on making decisions about your care.
Questions to think about
- How well does it work compared with other tests?
- What happens if I do not want to have the tests?
- How long will the test take?
- How do I get my test results? Will there be a follow-up appointment?
Information and support
The NHS webpage on urinary tract infections may be a good place to find out more.
You can also get support from your local Healthwatch.
NICE is not responsible for the quality or accuracy of any information or advice provided by these organisations.
ISBN: 978-1-4731-5175-8
This page was last updated: