Culture, Acid Fast Bacteria (AFB)

Acid Fast Smear and Culture for Mycobacteria. Identification of Mycobacteria, Nocardia, and other partially acid fast bacterial pathogens.

NOTE: See separate order for Mycobacteria Blood Culture (CXBLA)

NOTE: Only the first isolate per patient will be fully identified with antibiotic susceptibility performed. If characterization of subsequent isolates is necessary, the provider must contact the Microbiology laboratory to request testing.

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Specimen Type: Body Fluid
Collection Container: Sterile container
Specimen Volume: 1 mL
 

Specimen Type: Bone marrow
Collection Container: Sterlie container
Specimen Volume: Entire collection
 

Specimen Type: Respiratory
Sources: Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, bronchial washing, sputum
Specimen Volume: 5 mL
 

Specimen Type: Tissue
Collection Container: Sterile container
Specimen Volume: 5 to 10 mm

Specimen Type: Swab
Collection Container: Eswab
Specimen Volume: Entire collection
 

Specimen Type: Urine
Collection Container: Sterile container
Specimen Volume: 20 to 50 mL

 

Specimen Type: Spinal fluid/CSF
Collection Container: Sterile container
Specimen Volume: 5 mL

• 1 ESwab with Liquid Amies Medium
• 5ml Respiratory Specimen
• 1.0 ml Normally Sterile Body Fluids
• 5ml CSF
• 40ml Urine
• Any amount of tissue

• Aspirated Specimens: Submit in a sterile sealed leak-proof container or capped syringe
• Body Fluid: Submit in a clean, sterile, leak-proof container. Optimal volume is >5ml.
• Tissue And Biopsy Specimens: Submit in a clean, sterile, leak-proof , container. Small biopsy samples may be moistened with <1ml of sterile non-bacteriostatic saline to prevent drying during transportation
• Urine: Collect 40ml first morning clean catch urine. Submit in a leak-proof sterile container
• Respiratory: Collect 5 to 10 mL of respiratory specimen. Three sputum samples should be collected for acid fast smear and culture. These 3 samples should be collected at 8-24 hour intervals and include at least one first morning specimen. Submit in a sterile sealed leak-proof container.
• Swab Sample: Submission of swab samples is strongly discouraged due to the low quantity of material collected via swab. Decreased recovery of Acid Fast bacteria may occur. A negative result from a single swab specimen is not reliable. Swabs are acceptable only if the specimen cannot be obtained by any other means. If a swab is used, ESwab with Liquid Amies Medium is the preferred swab type. Respiratory samples collected via swab are unacceptable for culture

Final No Growth Report Available in 6 Weeks.

Final Positive Report Depends on the extent of requested workup and growth characteristics of pathogen isolated.

Due to growth characteristics, culture is not routinely performed for M. haemophilum. Alert the laboratory if culture for this species is required. Mycobacterium leprae will not grow in culture, alert the laboratory if this organism is suspected.