Scientists at the University of Reading have developed a new diagnostic test capable of delivering urinary tract infection results in under six hours. Published March 31 in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, the study marks a significant departure from standard laboratory protocols requiring days. This advancement addresses critical delays in antibiotic prescription that currently contribute to worsening patient outcomes across the healthcare system.
Key Details
The research team evaluated 352 urine samples from patients suspected of having infections across Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Results from the new method matched standard laboratory procedures in 96.95% of cases across seven first-line antibiotics. Current lab methods typically require two to three days to provide equivalent information regarding bacterial sensitivity.
A secondary analysis focused on 90 duplicate samples to determine whether storage conditions affected accuracy. Researchers compared samples collected with and without a preservative and found 98.75% agreement between results. This confirms that the preservative does not interfere with the test performance during transport or storage.
What This Means
According to NHS data, UTIs have resulted in more than 800,000 hospital admissions in England over the past five years. At the same time, about one in four urine samples tested in NHS laboratories contains bacteria that are resistant to commonly used antibiotics. Under current procedures, urine samples must be cultured overnight so bacteria can grow before doctors can identify them. This process adds significant delays, often taking two to three days in total.
"Being able to tell a doctor the same day which antibiotic to use means the patient gets the right treatment sooner, reducing the risk of resistance developing and their infection turning into potentially lethal sepsis," Dr. Oliver Hancox said. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Astratus Limited, the University of Reading spin-out company that will take the test to market. This statement underscores the commercial potential alongside the clinical benefits.
The new method removes the need for overnight culturing and simplifies the testing process significantly. A cartridge containing small tubes preloaded with different antibiotics is placed directly into the urine sample. The system then uses optical imaging to monitor bacterial growth in each tube to determine efficacy. If bacteria stop growing, the antibiotic in that tube is effective.
Professor Mike Lewis, NIHR Scientific Director for Innovation, noted the broader challenge of antimicrobial resistance. He described the rapid urine test as a fantastic example of the real-world solutions to AMR that the government committed to developing. The funding came from the National Institute for Health and Care Research. This NIHR-funded research not only has the potential to deliver quicker, more effective treatments to patients suffering with UTIs.
Market Outlook
Astratus Limited established the company in November 2024 to bring the test to market. This initiative represents a key milestone for the spin-out company established to commercialize the technology. Materials for the study were provided by the University of Reading. The commercialization phase will require regulatory approval before widespread deployment occurs.
Global health security depends on reducing the spread of resistant bacteria through faster diagnosis and targeted treatment. This technology could change how medical systems manage infections in practice worldwide, specifically in regions with limited resources. Future deployments will depend on regulatory approval and scaling manufacturing capabilities to meet global demand.
