Acid-Fast Bacilli Stain
There are more than 70 species of mycobacteria of which the primary pathogen is M. tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is a chronic, granulomatous disease casued by M. tuberculosis. Identification, and, if appropriate, antibiotic sensitivity, is required to initiate necessary therapy.
Acid Fast Smear is included in an Acid Fast Culture automatically and should rarely be ordered alone.
Expectorated sputum: Instruct patient to gargle with water and cough deeply. Three separate early morning collections on at least three consecutive days are recommended.
Preferred Specimen(s):
10 mL of body fluids, lower respiratory tract specimens, or gastric lavage in sterile container
or
2 mL CSF
or
40.0 mL urine in sterile, leak-proof container
or
2 grams fresh (unfixed) tissue in sterile container
or
1 mL exudate, aspirate, lesion material, ocular specimen collected in a sterile, leak-proof container
Minimum Volume:
2 mL of body fluids, lower respiratory tract specimens, or gastric lavage
or
1 mL CSF
or
1 gram fresh tissue (unfixed)
or
20 mL urine
or
1 mL or 1 swab wound, exudates, aspirates, lesion material, or ocular specimens
Transport refrigerated
Specimen Stability:
Ambient: unacceptable
Refrigerated: 5 days
Frozen: unacceptable
Tissue and biopsy material: Steile, leak-proof container with small amount of saline, no fixative or preservative.
Gastric lavage fluid: Sterile, leak-proof container. Must be neutralized with sodium bicarbonate within 4 hours of collection.
Sputums may be collected in sputum collection device per instructions. (First AM, deep cough specimens are best).
Urine should be first/early AM collection
See Laboratory Report
There are more than 70 species of mycobacteria of which the primary pathogen is M. tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is a chronic, granulomatous disease casued by M. tuberculosis. Identification, and, if appropriate, antibiotic sensitivity, is required to initiate necessary therapy.
48 hours; 4 days (if received on Friday afternoon)
01412707
87206, 87015