Full text loading...
A Preservative For Urine Specimens In Transit To The Bacteriological Laboratory
Abstract
SUMMARY
Bacteriological examination of the urine is often rendered useless by overgrowth of organisms, which occurs while the specimen is in transit from clinic to laboratory. A delay of 4 hr at room temperature is often sufficient to produce a 100-fold increase in the viable bacterial count. It is shown that this overgrowth can be prevented by adding to the freshly collected urine a mixed solution of NaCl and polyvinylpyrrolidone to give final concentrations of 9.0 per cent. NaCl and 1.0 per cent. PVP. By this means it is possible to perform quantitative bacteriological tests on mid-stream specimens that have been delayed in transit for 24 hr or longer.
- Received:
- Accepted:
- Published Online:
© J. MED. MICROBIOL. 1971