AFB Culture

LAB877

Usually includes AFB smear with AFB culture

Sputum: Early morning specimen is preferred for an individual order, or three specimens may be collected every 8 hours with a minimum of one collected in the early morning. Refrigerate specimen. For clean catch specimen refer toCollection and Handing for directions. Tissue/body fluids: Bring to Microbiology as soon as possible. Keep specimen at room temperature. Gastric lavage: Collected by physician or nurse first thing in morning or after an 8-hour fast. Deliver to the laboratory within 30 minutes of collection. Must be neutralized with Na2CO3. Stool: Approximately 1 g (walnut size) stool emulsified in 5 mL of sterile water. Can be refrigerated.

Sputum: Early morning specimen is preferred for an individual order, or three specimens may be collected every 8 hours with a minimum of one collected in the early morning. Refrigerate specimen. For clean catch specimen refer to Collection and Handing for directions. Tissue/body fluids: Bring to Microbiology as soon as possible. Keep specimen at room temperature. Gastric lavage: Collected by physician or nurse first thing in morning or after an 8-hour fast. Deliver to the laboratory within 30 minutes of collection. Must be neutralized with Na2CO3 Stool: Approximately 1 g (walnut size) stool emulsified in 5 mL of sterile water. Can be refrigerated.
Sputum for fungus and AFB culture should be received in the microbiology department within 12 hours. They should not be un-refrigerated for more than half an hour.

Failure to follow proper collection/handling procedures

Daily

6 weeks; AFB smear results within 48 hours

Organism identification test for MTB, AFB by NAA (nucleic acid amplification) to MCHD must be indicated on request form. Special order criteria must be met.

No AFB recovered