pubmed-article:4064610 | pubmed:abstractText | Comparative results of urine culture, specific gravity, chemical urinalysis, and sediment microscopy were assessed when specimens submitted to the clinical laboratory were divided and processed either in a transport kit containing a lyophilized preservative or in a conventional sterile cup without preservative. Overall agreement of results of 853 cultures after a 24-hr holding period (preserved samples at room temperature, unpreserved samples refrigerated) and 277 repeat cultures after a 48-hr holding period also showed excellent agreement (99.1% and 95.7%, respectively). Results of urinalysis and sediment microscopy done on 370 specimens demonstrated greater than 98% agreement after receipt of specimens in the laboratory and greater than 94% agreement after the holding periods. Specific gravity determinations from samples processed in the presence of preservative consistently were 0.006-0.007 units greater than in samples processed without preservative, and a reporting adjustment will be necessary when the transport kit is used. | lld:pubmed |