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)
Blood collected directly into a Myco F/ Lytic blood culture bottle
- 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

Minimum Volume

SPS Tube
1.1 mL (excluding the 1.7mL of liquid already in the SPS tube)- minimum volume required
8.3 mL - optimal for recovery of pathogens

Myco F/ Lytic Blood Culture Bottle
1mL-5mL- minimal volume required
3mL-5mL- optimal for recovery of pathogens

Instructions

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

Transport Container

SPS tube
Myco F/ Lytic blood culture bottle

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 72 hours.
Myco F/ lytic blood culture bottles are stable for 96 hours at room temperature.
DO NOT refrigerate specimens.
DO NOT place specimens on ice.

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

Unacceptable specimens:

Tubes other than SPS tubes, such as Acid Citrate Dextrose (ACD) yellow top, EDTA, Red Top Tubes.
Any expired tubes or bottles.
Any specimen received on ice or refrigerated.

Methodology
Automated Blood Culture System utilizing fluorometric technology to detect oxygen consumption by organisms in the blood culture bottle.

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.