This study is meaningful to all veterinary teams.
A group from Louisiana State University examined the effect of 24 hours of refrigeration on urine samples collected from dogs with signs of urinary tract infection (UTI). From a group of 104 dogs, bacterial growth was identified in 35.6 percent (n = 37), 33.7 percent (35), and 31.7 percent (33) of the immediately processed, refrigerated, and refrigerated-in-TSB urine samples, respectively.
Source: JAVMA, July 15, 2017. Link.
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE:
Canine urine samples collected for bacterial culture should be immediately submitted for testing. Although CFU counts for refrigerated and immediately processed samples were statistically similar in this study, sample refrigeration in enrichment broth resulted in imperfect sensitivity for UTI detection and is not recommended.
Also see: Table of contents, JAVMA, July 15, 2017. Link.
INSIGHTS: Attention sales representatives! Talk about this with every customer and then discuss related testing and sampling supplies as part of the conversation.