People who have a urinary tract infection (UTI) may soon get the right medicine much faster, thanks to a new test that gives results in only a few hours.
Researchers at the University of Reading, together with colleagues from the University of Southampton and Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, created a method that looks directly at a urine sample. On average, the test can tell which antibiotic will work in about 5.85 hours. Traditional lab tests usually need two to three days.
Study Shows High Accuracy for Fast UTI Testing
The study, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and published on March 31 in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, examined 352 urine samples from patients suspected of having a UTI. The new test agreed with standard lab methods in 96.95 % of cases across seven common antibiotics.
A second part of the work looked at 90 paired samples to see if storage changed the results. Researchers compared samples kept with a preservative to those without and found a 98.75 % match, showing the preservative does not interfere.
Dr. Oliver Hancox, chief executive of Astratus Limited – the University of Reading spin‑out that will market the test – said: “With current methods, a patient may finish a course of antibiotics before the lab result arrives, or receive a drug that does not work.”
“Getting the right drug on the same day can lower the chance of resistance and prevent the infection from becoming dangerous sepsis.”
Professor Mike Lewis, NIHR scientific director for innovation, added: “This research can give patients quicker, more effective treatment for UTIs and also helps fight the larger problem of antimicrobial resistance. It is a clear example of the real‑world solutions the government wants in its 10‑Year Health Plan.”
Why Speed Matters for UTI Diagnosis
In England, more than 800,000 people have been admitted to hospital because of UTIs in the past five years. About one‑quarter of urine samples tested in NHS labs contain bacteria that are already resistant to common antibiotics. The UK processes roughly 65 million urine samples each year.
Today, labs must grow bacteria overnight before they can identify the bug and test antibiotics, which adds a two‑ to three‑day delay.
How the Direct‑From‑Urine Test Works
The new approach removes the overnight growth step. A small cartridge with tiny tubes, each filled with a different antibiotic, is placed directly into the urine sample and loaded into a machine.
The machine uses optical imaging to watch bacterial growth in each tube. If bacteria stop growing, the antibiotic in that tube works; if they keep growing, the drug is ineffective. This lets doctors choose the correct treatment in less than six hours.
Professor Matthew Inada‑Kim, an acute‑care doctor and antimicrobial‑resistance lead at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “UTIs are a frequent reason for antibiotic prescriptions. Getting the right drug the first time can save lives.”
“A test that uses the same urine we already collect and gives an answer the same day could change how we handle these infections in everyday practice.”
First Study to Test Sample Preservation
To verify the method, the team used 352 urine samples already collected during routine testing at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, plus 90 fresh samples from the emergency department.
Each sample was split in two; boric acid was added to one half to see if the preservative affected results. The two sets matched 98.75 % of the time, confirming that preservation does not reduce accuracy. This is the first direct comparison of preserved and unpreserved urine in a rapid test.
A Milestone for Rapid Diagnostics
The findings mark an important step for Astratus Limited, the University of Reading spin‑out created in November 2024 to bring the test to market.