Nat. Rev. Urol. doi:10.1038/nrurol.2017.20 Figure 1 Overview of the clinical workflow of existing and future diagnostic technologies for UTI Figure 1 | Overview of the clinical workflow of existing and future diagnostic technologies for UTI. In current practice (illustrated in the grey boxes) once a urine sample is collected it is transferred to a clinical microbiology laboratory. In the laboratory, sample processing is initiated with a screening assay to assess for the presence of bacteria followed by pathogen identification, and, if positive, antimicrobial-susceptibility testing (AST). Information from each successive assay enables providers to prescribe specific antibiotic therapy. However, truly infection-specific antibiotic treatment cannot be prescribed until results from AST are available — at least 48 hours after sample submission. The new technologies in development have the potential to expedite this process and transform the clinical microbiology workflow (depicted in blue boxes). Urine samples collected in clinic can be analysed at the point of care. In this setting, integrated platforms can determine both pathogen identity and AST enabling precise, infection-specific treatment in a matter of hours from presentation. For complex samples or those collected from clinics without access to point-of-care testing, integrated platforms can provide similarly robust and efficient information in a clinical laboratory. MALDI-TOF, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight. Davenport, M. et al. (2017) New and developing diagnostic technologies for urinary tract infections Nat. Rev. Urol. doi:10.1038/nrurol.2017.20