How long have you been using RapidBac™ Vet?

We’ve had the test at the clinic for about two years. Once I learned “when” (which cases) to use it, I, personally, have been using the RapidBac™ Vet test regularly for about a year.

Why did you originally purchase RapidBac™ Vet?

The medical director at the clinic had heard about it and brought it up at rounds.  We discussed it and decided it would be a valuable tool at our vet clinic.

Who in the clinic actually performs the test?

Our vet assistants and technicians.

Do you think that RapidBac™ Vet is a trustworthy alternative to microscopic urinalysis (or other methods) for detecting bacteriuria?

The RapidBac™ Vet test is much more sensitive than a urinalysis.  It is a culture without identifying the bacteria.  I think the best way to convince my colleagues would be to recommend they use it on the cases where they don’t necessarily trust a negative on a urinalysis, to confirm a UTI has resolved, on a newly diagnosed diabetic/ renal disease/ Cushingoid patient, or to determine bacteriuria in a patient with dilute urine.

What do you do when you get a positive result with RapidBac™ Vet?

Unless this is an infection that has not responded to antibiotics, I will treat with antibiotics and retest with a RapidBac™ Vet after treatment.

If this is on a urine sample from a patient with a recent infection that has not resolved, or is recurrent, a culture and sensitivity to the lab is indicated.

What do you do when you get a negative result with RapidBac™ Vet?

I can trust the patient doesn’t have a urinary tract infection.

How do you use RapidBac™ Vet in cases of diabetic patients?

I use RapidBac™ Vet as a screening tool for UTIs for diabetics (and anyone with a chronic disease that causes dilute urine).  It is not infrequent that I find silent UTIs by using this test; in fact, based on clinical signs, I suspected one of my diabetic patients had a UTI.  I left instructions in the medical record to run a RapidBac™ Vet test.  Since we had accidentally run out of RapidBac™ Vet tests, they ran a urinalysis in-house which did not show bacteria, or other evidence of a UTI (no WBCs, protein, nor blood).  I was fairly certain this patient did have a UTI, so since we were out of the in-house RapidBac™ Vet tests, I asked them to send in the urine for a culture and sensitivity to the lab.  They accidentally sent the urine in for a “urinalysis and culture & sensitivity ‘if indicated'”.  The result I received that same day was a negative urinalysis. I asked the technician to call the lab and request a culture and sensitivity, not a ‘urinalysis and a C & S’ if indicated’”.  They ran the culture and the urine did, in fact, grow E.coli.  I was able to treat the patient and resolve the clinical signs (which included problems with her glucose regulation).  This was an example of how I really needed RapidBac™ Vet in my clinic that day!

Would you use RapidBac™ Vet in emergency/24-hour care?

It is a very fast and trustworthy test for identifying bacteria in urine.  Much, much more sensitive than running a urinalysis in-house, or on the Sedivue (we also have a Sedivue in our clinic, and unfortunately at this time, can’t trust the microscopy).

What advice would you have for veterinarians who are considering RapidBac™ Vet?

The best recommendation I have is to put a note somewhere to remind you to use it when you first get it in the hospital.  I regret not figuring out its usefulness for a year! The RapidBac™ Vet is a very accurate and sensitive test to detect bacteria in urine. I run it in addition to urinalyses, as well as in place of them when I don’t need all of the other information (and just need to know if my patient has bacteriuria).