Written by Emil Luca:  Guidance UTI testing by Pathnostics (Irvine, CA, USA) combines multiplex PCR (M-PCR) and Pooled Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing (P-AST™).  It is intended for precision diagnostic testing with rapid results for the management of complicated, recurrent, or persistent urinary tract infections (UTIs) and elevated risk patients.

Complicated, recurrent, or persistent urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a significant burden on individual health and healthcare resources.  These are usually caused by multiple and resistant organisms, which are difficult to treat depending on the current culture sensitivity test.

Guidance UTI testing uses multiplex PCR, the molecular biology technique for amplification of multiple nucleic acid targets in a single PCR experiment. It is designed to detect 27 individual organisms and 3 bacterial groups. This new test can also detect 32 resistance genes that produce antibiotic resistance.

Resistance genotyping is not enough for establishing a therapeutic strategy; phenotyping is still required. Here comes the role of Pooled Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing (P-AST™), the second component of Guidance UTI. It has the advantage of accounting for bacterial interactions in polymicrobial infections that may alter antibiotic resistance. This advantage is lacking in the standard culture sensitivity test.

Guidance UTI identifies the specific uropathogens in the specimen, including fastidious bacteria, yeasts, and viruses that are difficult to detect by culture, even when multiple organisms are present. The standard culture test may return these results as “contaminated” or “mixed flora”. Guidance® UTI has demonstrated 95% sensitivity when identifying organisms, which is 43% more sensitive than culture.

Guidance UTI provides personalized results in less than one day from receipt at lab, while culture can take 3-5 days. Results are summarized in an easy-to-read report showing therapy options based on the patient’s individual infection.

The writer declares no conflict of interest. Specific information about this product are obtained from the manufacturer’s website. Inquiries are to be addressed to the manufacturer.

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