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Acid Fast Culture (AFBC)

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EPIC Test Name

Acid Fast Culture

EPIC Code

LAB877

Specimen 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
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

SpecimenTurnaround TimeFrequency
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
Microbiology - Downtown

Test Includes

Culture including direct smear

CPT

87015, 87116, 87206

LOINC

543-9

Contact Information

Microbiology - Downtown: (315)464-6800
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