Acid Fast Culture (AFBC) |
EPIC Test Name
Acid Fast CultureEPIC Code
LAB877Specimen Requirements
Fluids/aspirates: as much as possible, minimum 3-5 mL in Sterile container; Transfer synovial fluid to heparin (green top) tube Bone marrow: SPS vacuum tube Respiratory: 3-5 mL in Sterile container For sputum, a deeply expectorated, early morning specimen is best Urine: 10 mL in Sterile container; first morning, mid-stream specimen is best (Sent to Reference Laboratory) Swabs are suboptimal specimens | |
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Minimum Volume: | See Specimen |
Collection: | Collect using standard procedures. |
Transport: | Room Temperature or Refrigerated |
Stability: | Blood/Bone Marrow: Room Temperature: ≤24 hours All Others: Room Temperature: ≤2 hours Refrigerated: (4°C) ≤ 7 days |
Container: | Sterile container or Gel swab |
Rejection Causes: | Although they will not be rejected, swabs are suboptimal specimens. |
Notes: | Patients on TB therapy may have positive direct PCR results and negative cultures |
Turnaround Time
Specimen | Turnaround Time | Frequency |
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Fluids/aspirates: as much as possible, minimum 3-5 mL in Sterile container; Transfer synovial fluid to heparin (green top) tube Bone marrow: SPS vacuum tube Respiratory: 3-5 mL in Sterile container For sputum, a deeply expectorated, early morning specimen is best Urine: 10 mL in Sterile container; first morning, mid-stream specimen is best (Sent to Reference Laboratory) Swabs are suboptimal specimens | Preliminary culture results available within 7 days Final negative results available at 56 days. Smear results are reported daily by 2:00 p.m. | Daily |
Additional Information
Smears are not performed on CSF, gastric aspirates, throats, or urine due to low sensitivity/specificity.Direct PCR detection of M. tuberculosis (TB) complex is automatically performed on smear-positive expectorated and induced sputa. Patients on TB therapy may have positive direct PCR results and negative cultures.
Swabs are suboptimal specimens.
Performed
Lab |
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Microbiology - Downtown |
Test Includes
Culture including direct smear |