Mycobacterial (AFB) Culture and Smear AFBC

Method(s) Culture/Fluorochrome Stain
Specimen Required
Collect

Respiratory specimens. Also acceptable: Body fluid, CSF, gastric aspirate, tissue, or urine.

Transport

Transport refrigerated.

* Collection Instructions *

Specimen Preparation:

  • Place each specimen in an individually sealed bag.

Respiratory specimens:

  • Transfer (for each collection) 5-10 mL to a sterile container (Min: 1 mL).

Body Fluids or CSF:

  • Transfer 5 mL to a sterile container (Min: 1 mL).

Gastric Aspirates:

  • Must be neutralized (pH7) with sodium carbonate if transport is delayed for more than four hours.
  • Transfer 5-10 mL to a sterile container (Min: 1 mL).

Tissue:

  • Transfer to a sterile container and place on gauze moistened with sterile non-bacteriostatic saline to prevent drying (Min: Visible).

Urine:

  • Transfer at least 40 mL to a sterile container (Min: 10 mL).
Remarks

Specimen source required. Patient Preparation: Recommended collection: Three sputum specimens at 8-24 hour intervals (24 hours when possible) and at least one first-morning specimen. An individual order must be submitted for each specimen.

Stability

Ambient: 24 hours; Refrigerated: 1 week, Frozen: 1 week

Unacceptable Conditions

Dry material or material collected and transported on a wooden shaft swab. Acid Fast Stain: Stool, blood, bone marrow, grossly bloody specimens, CSF if less than 5 mL, or urine specimens if less than 40 mL.

Schedule Daily
Billing Code 3010175
CPTCode 87116, 87206, 87015, 87556
Notes

A direct specimen PCR test for M. tuberculosis complex in sputum is automatically performed on one of three sputum samples submitted for the detection of M. tuberculosis. It is also approved for sputum specimens submitted to remove patients from respiratory isolation. Cultures are routinely held for 8 weeks. A bacterial culture, fungal culture, and AFB culture will always be performed on bronchial specimens.

Preferred Specimen Collection Device(s)
Reference Interval

No AFB isolated.

No Appointment Necessary
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12 Patient Service Centers in Central New York.

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