In developing countries, the frequent failure of the available phenotypic approaches for laboratory diagnosis of urinary tract infections in providing results at the point where medical care is mostly required, becomes a major barrier to efficient antibiotic treatment and management of urinary tract infections in the public health sector. This review therefore focuses on molecular and imaging diagnostic techniques for urinary tract infection as rapid and effective modern approaches requires in health care delivery. Currently, available laboratory diagnoses of urinary tract infection in developing countries are mostly phenotypic approaches, and takes not less than two-four days before completion and result made available for appropriate treatment. From literature, it is apparent that these old-century approaches produce portion of patients' result that does not fit the true picture; and the techniques had been found with more disadvantages than advantages. Molecular approaches are now emerging as modern laboratory test techniques which enable rapid and effective diagnosis of urinary tract infection with Biosensor, Microfluidics, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and other integrated platforms technologies. These emerging technologies could improve urinary tract infection diagnosis via direct pathogen detection from urine samples, rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing, high precision and point-of-care testing in public health sector. Imaging techniques have also been so useful in identifying risk factors and abnormalities that can be modified; to decrease likelihood of recurrent (upper) UTI; and to reduce risk of renal scarring. These approaches however, had proved so successful that seems they will replace old-century testing methods, and hence, provides efficient antibiotic treatment and management; therefore, saving health care costs and valuable diagnosis time.
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