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Acid Fast Blood Culture

Last Modified: 7/22/2010 5:54:03 AM


Specimen Requirements:

4.0 mL Whole Blood in a Green Top Tube - Na Heparin
Collection Instructions:

Should only be drawn Monday through Friday and must be to the Central Laboratory by 4:00 p.m.
Minimum Volume: 1.0 mL
Temperature & Stability: 1 day Ambient
Reference Range: Refer to Interpretive Results
Test Comments: If culture is positive for Mycobacterium species, it will reflex to #2935 AFB Identification by DNA (GenProbe) or #5648 AFB Identification by HPLC at an additional charge. 
If M. tuberculosis complex isolated, susceptibility testing will be performed and a fee will be charged. 
For other Mycobacterium species, susceptibility testing will be performed upon request.
Methodology: Culture
Clinical Significance: The laboratory diagnosis of mycobacterial diseases depends on the detection and recovery of AFB from clinical specimens. This assay employs the use of solid media and broth-based media (MGIT) for rapid isolation of Mycobacterium species. Identifications are performed by commercial probes, HPLC, and/or conventional methods. Susceptibilities for M. tuberculosis and M. avium-intracellulare complex (MAC) are performed by the radiometric method and all others by conventional methods.
Custom Panel: No

PRODUCTION SCHEDULE

Turn Around Time: 50 to 55 days
Days Performed: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Sites Performed: Specialty Laboratories
PHL Test Code: MSOT
Send Out Test Code: 2417
Alternate Test Names: AFB Culture; Culture, Mycobacterium; Culture, Mycobacterium Blood; Mycobacterium Blood Culture; Mycobacterium Culture
CPT Coding: 87015, 87116

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