The Dip-Slide: a modified dip-inoculum transport medium for the laboratory diagnosis of infections of the urinary tract

Abstract

The dip-slide, consisting of a glass microscope slide coated with nutrient medium and inoculated by dipping in freshly voided urine, provides a simple measure of the bacterial concentration in fresh urine. This is a useful supplement to the usual microscopy and culture of urine in the diagnosis of urinary tract infections in general practice, when specimens cannot be delivered to a laboratory within several hours of collection, particularly when urine specimens have to travel by post. Dip-slides are also useful as the sole test in screening for symptomless bacteriuria.