Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39164976›Full record

ArticleScandinavian journal of primary health care2025

Comparing visual and automated urine dipstick analysis in a general practice population.

S M L Cox, P Hoitinga, G J Oudhuis, R M Hopstaken, P H M Savelkoul, J W L Cals, E G P M de Bont

Abstract readComparative StudyValidation Study
In one paragraph

Article in Scandinavian journal of primary health care, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

S M L CoxDepartment of Family Medicine, CAPHRI, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0001-6804-936X
P HoitingaDepartment of Family Medicine, CAPHRI, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
G J OudhuisMedical Microbiology, Infectious Diseases, and Infection Prevention, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
R M HopstakenGP Practice De Kuil, Hapert, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-8357-5197
P H M SavelkoulMedical Microbiology, Infectious Diseases, and Infection Prevention, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-3527-6950
J W L CalsDepartment of Family Medicine, CAPHRI, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0001-9550-5674
E G P M de BontDepartment of Family Medicine, CAPHRI, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-2700-4752

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionUrinary symptoms constitute the primary reason for female patients to consult their general practitioner. The urinary dipstick test serves as a cornerstone for diagnosing urinary tract infections (UTIs), yet traditional visual interpretation may be subject to variability. Automated devices for dipstick urinalysis are routinely used as alternatives, yet the evidence regarding their accuracy remains limited. Therefore we aimed to compare concordance between visual and automated urinary dipstick interpretation and determine their test characteristics for the prediction of bacteriuria. MATERIAL AND

methodsWe conducted a prospective validation study including urine samples originating from adult patients in general practice that were sent to the Maastricht Medical Centre + for urinary culture. Urinary dipstick tests were performed on each sample, which were interpreted visually and automatically. We calculated Cohen's κ and percentage agreement and used 2 × 2 tables to calculate test characteristics.

resultsWe included 302 urine samples. Visual and automated analysis showed almost perfect agreement (κ = 0.82 and κ = 0.86, respectively) for both nitrite and leukocyte esterase, but moderate agreement for erythrocytes (κ = 0.51). Interpretation of clinically relevant (nitrite and/or leukocyte esterase positive) samples showed almost perfect agreement (κ = 0.88). Urinary dipsticks show similar test characteristics with urinary culture as gold standard, with sensitivities of 0.92 and 0.91 and specificities of 0.37 and 0.41 for visual and automated interpretation respectively.

conclusionAutomated and visual dipstick analysis show near perfect agreement and perform similarly in predicting bacteriuria. However, automated analysis requires maintenance and occasionally measurement errors can occur.

Indexed as

BacteriuriaReagent StripsUrinalysisUrinary Tract InfectionsAdultAgedAged, 80 and overCarboxylic Ester HydrolasesFemaleGeneral PracticeHumansMaleMiddle AgedNitritesProspective StudiesSensitivity and SpecificityCarboxylic Ester Hydrolasesleukocyte esteraseNitritesReagent Stripsdiagnostic equipmentgeneral practicepoint-of-care testingprimary health careUrinary tract infections

Identifiers

PMID39164976
PMCPMC11834816

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