AFB Blood Culture

Message

Note for BUMCT - Collect specimen before 9:30 AM

Test Code

C BAFB

Alias/See Also

Blood Culture for: TB, Mycobacteria, MAC, MAI, Mycobacterium avium, or atypical Mycobacteria

Includes

Blood Culture for AFB includes smear (stain)

Preferred Specimen

*Call Laboratory for SPS (sodium polyanethol sulfonate) tube(s)
Describe the type of blood collection if known, in the Additional source information, such as:
Blood Peripheral,
Blood, Central Line
Blood, Red Lumen
Blood, Arterial
Blood, Broviac
Blood, White Lumen

SPS tube(s)
MIN fill - 8.3 mL

Minimum Volume

Minimum Volume: 8.3mL

Instructions

NOTE: Test should be limited to culture of patients with severe immunocompromising conditions such as AIDS (low CD4 count).

Transport Container

SPS tube

Transport Temperature

Ambient / Room temperature

Specimen Stability

Send to the Lab within 2 hours of collection.

Time from collection to arrival for AFB processing at BUMCP should never exceed 24 hours.
DO NOT refrigerate specimens.
DO NOT place specimens on ice.

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Unacceptable specimens:
Non-Isolator or SPS tubes such as Acid Citrate Dextrose (ACD) yellow top, EDTA, Red Top Tubes.
Any expired tubes.
Any specimen received on ice or refrigerated
Any tube received after excessive transport time.

Methodology
Manual culture

Clinical Significance

There are more than 70 species of mycobacteria of which the primary pathogen is the M. tuberculosis complex. Tuberculosis is a chronic, granulomatous disease caused by M. tuberculosis. Identification, and, if appropriate, antibiotic susceptibility testing, is required to initiate necessary therapy.

Performing Laboratory
Testing performed at Banner University Medical Center Phoenix Microbiology Laboratory

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.