Despite the recognized superiority of traditional culture methods to investigate bacteriuria their routine use in population studies is costly. We proposed to use Phase contrast microscopy (PCM) which allows clear visualization of bacteria with no centrifugation or staining. Urine samples from 214 patients were studied by PCM and results compared to those obtained by quantitative culture. MCF had 95% sensitivity and 96% specificity. Therefore, PCM may be used to screen urine samples for further bacteriologic study with the highest chance of obtaining positive cultures.