Fast Urine Test Could Cut UTI Treatment Time

A breakthrough urine test can determine the most effective antibiotic within six hours—a drastic improvement over the traditional three‑day laboratory turnaround.

How It Works

• Cartridge Design: The test uses a cartridge containing microscopic tubes, each preloaded with a different antibiotic.
• Sample Addition: A patient’s urine is poured into the cartridge.
• Real‑Time Monitoring: Light sensors track bacterial growth in each tube over time.
• Growth Stops → The antibiotic is effective against the bacteria.
• Growth Continues → The antibiotic fails.

Validation & Accuracy

• Initial Study: 352 patient samples were tested. The cartridge’s antibiotic recommendations matched conventional lab results in 97 % of cases for seven common UTI drugs.
• Follow‑Up Study: 90 duplicate samples confirmed near‑perfect agreement, even when urine was preserved.

Clinical Impact

• Same‑Day Treatment: Doctors can prescribe the correct medication on the same day of testing.
• Reduced Complications: Faster, targeted therapy lowers the risk of infection escalation and antibiotic resistance.
• Broad Adoption Potential: Given that urinary tract infections (UTIs) drive a large portion of antibiotic prescriptions, this rapid test could transform routine clinical practice and improve patient outcomes.

Development & Commercialization

The technology was pioneered by researchers at the University of Reading and is now being commercialized through a newly formed company.