For hospitals and diagnostic laboratories searching for a UTI machine/PCR panel, the objective is usually straightforward: identify the microorganisms associated with a urinary tract infection more quickly and obtain information that can support appropriate treatment decisions.
Traditional urine culture remains an important part of UTI diagnostics, because it can provide antimicrobial susceptibility information.
However, culture commonly requires 48–72 hours to identify bacterial species and obtain an antibiogram. Due to this, molecular technologies are creating another option for laboratories that need faster pathogen identification.
One example is the Bosch Vivalytic UTI test; a multiplex PCR-based panel designed for the automated Vivalytic molecular diagnostics platform.
What Is a UTI PCR Panel?
A UTI PCR panel uses molecular techniques to look for genetic targets associated with multiple urinary pathogens in a single sample.
Rather than testing only for one suspected organism, multiplex testing can investigate several potential causes of infection simultaneously.
This can be useful because Escherichia coli is far from the only organism associated with UTIs.
- Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, Enterococcus, Proteus and other organisms can also be involved, particularly in complicated or healthcare-associated infections.
The Bosch Vivalytic UTI test currently listed by Bosch detects 16 uropathogens and 7 antimicrobial-resistance genes in a single test.
These include organisms such as:
- Escherichia coli
- Klebsiella pneumoniae
- Klebsiella oxytoca
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Enterococcus faecalis and E. faecium
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Staphylococcus saprophyticus
- Proteus spp.
- Acinetobacter baumannii
- Streptococcus agalactiae
Vivalytic UTI Overview
The panel also includes selected genetic markers associated with trimethoprim, methicillin and vancomycin resistance.
*Currently under development. Available as Research Use Only (RUO). Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
What Is the Vivalytic UTI Machine?
There is not a separate machine exclusively for UTI testing.
Instead, the Vivalytic Analyser is an automated molecular diagnostics platform capable of running different assay cartridges.
For UTI testing, a urine sample is used with the relevant Vivalytic cartridge.
The analyser then automates molecular processes that include:
- Sample preparation,
- Cell lysis,
- Nucleic-acid extraction,
- DNA amplification and
- Detection.
This distinction could be important for laboratories considering an investment in molecular diagnostics equipment.
So instead of purchasing a single-purpose UTI machine, the same Vivalytic platform has a broader molecular diagnostic test menu with 13 assays & 50+ discoverable pathogens that cover:
- Respiratory,
- Gastrointestinal
- Sexually transmitted infections,
- Nosocomial infections and
- Bacterial meningitis.
Can a UTI PCR Panel Replace Urine Culture?
Not really.
PCR can rapidly detect specific organisms and selected resistance genes, but detection of a resistance gene is not equivalent to comprehensive phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
Also, it’s important to note that molecular detection of an organism does not automatically establish that it is responsible for a patient’s symptoms, especially in a situation where asymptomatic bacteriuria or colonisation may occur.
- A published evaluation of Vivalytic involving patients with complicated UTIs compared the molecular platform with standard urine culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The researchers found promising diagnostic performance, while also identifying limitations that reinforce the need for appropriate interpretation of molecular results.
PCR and culture should therefore be considered according to the patient’s circumstances, laboratory workflow and relevant clinical guidance rather than viewed automatically as competing technologies.
Could a UTI PCR Panel Fit Your Laboratory?
For a hospital or diagnostic laboratory, the potential value of a UTI machine and PCR panel lies in combining both automated molecular testing with simultaneous detection of multiple uropathogens and selected resistance markers.
The more useful procurement questions are therefore:
- Which organisms does your laboratory need to identify?
- How long do current UTI results take?
- How frequently are samples referred elsewhere?
- And would earlier molecular information improve your existing workflow?
MediDiagAfrica can provide further information about the Bosch Vivalytic Analyser and Vivalytic UTI PCR panel, discuss your laboratory’s molecular testing requirements or help you enquire about the wider Vivalytic platform.
Contact us Today to Find out More, or reach out to Valery Minkousse on Whatsapp.
Important: Bosch currently identifies the Vivalytic UTI test as under development and available for Research Use Only (RUO), not for use in diagnostic procedures. Product availability and regulatory status can also vary by market.