Rapid UTI Test Delivers Faster, More Accurate Antibiotic Treatment

A new rapid test for urinary tract infections (UTIs) developed by researchers at the University of Reading and University of Southampton could significantly improve how quickly patients receive the right antibiotic treatment. The test, called rapid microcapillary direct-from-urine antibiotic susceptibility testing (RMD AST), uses a simple “dip and test” method to analyze urine samples and determine antibiotic effectiveness in under six hours. This is a major improvement compared to standard laboratory methods, which typically take two to three days.

Currently, patients are often prescribed antibiotics before test results are available, which can lead to ineffective treatment if the bacteria are resistant. The new method uses tiny tubes filled with antibiotics that are dipped into urine samples. Optical imaging then detects whether bacterial growth continues or is stopped, indicating resistance or susceptibility.

In testing 352 urine samples, the new method showed 96.5% accuracy for common bacteria like Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, with results available in about 5.85 hours on average. Additional testing confirmed that boric acid, commonly used to preserve samples, did not interfere with results.

This innovation is especially important as antibiotic resistance rises. According to the World Health Organization, around one-third of UTIs globally are resistant to first-line antibiotics. Faster, accurate testing could help doctors prescribe the right treatment sooner, reducing complications like severe infections or sepsis and improving patient outcomes.