A positive leukocyte esterase and nitrite test (urine rapid-screening test strips)indicates:

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The leukocyte esterase and the nitrite tests are two indicators of bacteria present in urine specimens.This is a rapid method and is valuable in detecting UTIs.Leukocyte esterase is an enzyme present in the granules of neutrophils.Generally,neutrophils are increased in number in UTIs to fight the infection; therefore,it is a good indicator.Common organisms that cause UTIs such as Escherichia coli,Proteus,Klebsiella,Enterobacter,and Pseudomonas reduce nitrate to nitrite.The nitrite test then is a good indicator of infection also.If these tests are negative,it does not rule out an infection because certain organisms do not have the enzyme nitrate reductase to reduce nitrate to nitrite,and not all patients respond with the same neutrophil response.

A Positive Leukocyte Esterase and Nitrite Test (Urine Rapid-Screening Test