People with urinary tract infections (UTIs) may soon get the right antibiotic much faster, thanks to a new test that delivers results in hours instead of days. Scientists at the University of Reading, working with researchers from the University of Southampton and Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, have developed a method that analyzes urine samples directly. On average, the test can determine which antibiotic will be effective in about 5.85 hours. Current lab methods typically take two to three days to provide the same information. Study Shows High Accuracy for Fast UTI Testing The research, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and published March 31 in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, evaluated 352 urine samples from patients suspected of having UTIs. Results from the new test matched standard laboratory methods in 96.95% of cases across seven first line antibiotics used to treat UTIs.…