What is the BIOTIA‑ID Urine Test?
The BIOTIA-ID Urine Test is a clinical metagenomic-based diagnostic test for patients with challenging urinary tract infections.
Next-generation urine testing
Comprehensive urogenital pathogen detection
Outperforms standard urine culture
Reflex test for symptomatic, culture-negative patients
Optimized antimicrobial therapy with drug resistance profiling
Advanced diagnostic testing for UTIs
Clinical metagenomics is an advanced form of next-generation sequencing (NGS) that looks for pathogen DNA in biological samples, providing a more complete picture of the microbial community present. The BIOTIA-ID Urine Test applies this technology to urine to enable comprehensive and highly accurate diagnosis of challenging UTI cases.
DNA-based detection
Clinical metagenomics allows us to sequence whole pathogen genomes directly from urine specimens, identifying organisms that standard culture often misses.
Drug resistance profiling
Sequencing whole pathogen genomes allows us to detect a broad panel of antibiotic resistance genes to guide targeted therapy and improve antibiotic stewardship efforts.
Available across all 50 U.S. states
The BIOTIA-ID Urine Test is approved as a laboratory-developed test across all 50 U.S. states. It is available for both in-clinic and at-home collection.
DNA-based detection
Clinical metagenomics allows us to sequence whole pathogen genomes directly from urine specimens, identifying organisms that standard culture often misses.
Drug resistance profiling
Sequencing whole pathogen genomes allows us to detect a broad panel of antibiotic resistance genes to guide targeted therapy and improve antibiotic stewardship efforts.
Available across all 50 U.S. states
The BIOTIA-ID Urine Test is approved as a laboratory-developed test across all 50 U.S. states. It is available for both in-clinic and at-home collection.
Problems we solve
UTIs are the most common outpatient infection.
of sepsis cases originate in the urogenital tract.
Immunocompromised patients are at a higher risk of developing urosepsis.
Existing testing options are slow and miss important UTI-causing pathogens.
of urine cultures fail.
Emergency department visits annually.
Annual emergency department bill for complicated UTI cases.
average number of days a complicated UTI patient is hospitalized.
Outperforms standard urine culture
Broader pathogen detection
Better-matched treatment
Fit for telehealth practices
The BIOTIA‑ID Urine Test
The BIOTIA-ID Urine Test outperforms standard urine culture and offers enhanced insights as compared to other next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based testing options.
BIOTIA-ID Urine | NGS Competitors | Standard care | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test type | Clinical metagenomics | 16s sequencing | Standard urine culture |
| Results turnaround | 2–3 business days | 2–5 business days | 2–5 business days |
| Price | $249 | $259 | Varies |
| Resolution and detail | Detailed — species or strain level resolution | Poor — genus or species, with some groups unresolved | Detailed — genus or species for species that grow |
| Kinds of microbes | Extensive — bacteria, fungi, anaerobes, fastidious, and atypical pathogens | Limited — bacteria only | Limited — common bacteria and fungi only |
| Accuracy | High — limited contamination and false positives | Low — high potential for contamination and false positives | Low — high potential for contamination and false negatives |
| Percent of genome considered | Extensive — thousands of genes across the entire genome | Low — looks at only one gene in a section of the genome | None, not applicable |
| Future biomarker and therapeutic insights | High | Low | None |
| Antimicrobial resistance prediction | High — clinically validated resistance reporting | None | Separate testing required |
| Clinical relevance | High — healthy microbes filtered from report | Low — reports non-pathogenic species | Low — misses pathogenic species |
Forty-four pathogens, one urine test
Built-in resistance profiling for optimal treatment selection
Highlights
- Highly accurate phenotypic resistance prediction from genomic information
- Awarded "Best Prediction Accuracy" in the 2025 and 2026 Critical Assessment of Massive Data Analysis (CAMDA) AMR Challenges
- Approved for use as part of the BIOTIA-ID Urine Test across all 50 U.S. states
| Antibiotic class | Resistance mechanism | Genes | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beta-lactam | Extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) | blaCTX-M, blaTEM, blaSHV | ESBLs which might be specific to a wide range beta-lactams including cephalosporins and penicillins |
| Beta-lactam | Carbapenemases | blaACT, blaADC, blaCMY, blaKPC, blaNDM, blaPDC, blaOXA, blaVIM | Commonly found in Enterobacteriaceae, have enzymatic activity against carbapenems, penicillins, cephalosporins and monobactams |
| Beta-lactam | Penicillin binding protein (PBP2a) mutants | mecA, mecB, mecC | Encodes low-affinity PBP2a, confers high resistance against methicillin/oxacillin. Key resistance marker in Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) |
| Folate pathway inhibitors | Trimethoprim/sulfonamide (TMP/SUL) | dfrA, dfrB, dfrG, sul1, sul2 | Mutant proteins which evade the effect of folate pathway inhibitors and confer resistance against trimethoprim/sulfonamides. |
| Glycopeptides | VAN-A/B | vanA, vanB | Commonly found in Enterococci, confer vancomycin or teicoplanin resistance. |
Built in collaboration with leading clinicians
Dr. Angelish Kumar
Dr. Angelish Kumar
Dr. Michael H. Augenbraun
Dr. Bradley A. Connor
"This cutting-edge technology allows for more precise and timely identification of atypical urogenital pathogens that often evade standard testing methods. By bridging this diagnostic gap, NGS technology may become an invaluable tool in tailoring targeted and effective treatment plans, ultimately elevating the standard of care for our most vulnerable patients suffering from complicated and recurrent UTI."
Disclaimer
NYS LDT Approved Diagnostic Test
The BIOTIA-ID Urine NGS Assay has been approved by New York State Department of Health's Clinical Laboratory Evaluation Program as an in vitro diagnostic laboratory developed test (LDT). This assay was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Biotia. The assay has not been cleared or approved by the FDA, nor is it required to be. The Biotia Laboratory is certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA '88) and is accredited to perform high-complexity clinical laboratory testing.