CULTURE AFB W/ AFB STAIN

Test Code

CXAFB

Alias/See Also

LAB877 AFB CULTURE 81296

Includes

Culture for Acid Fast Bacteria (including M. tuberculosis). Includes direct AFB stain.

Preferred Specimen

Respiratory secretions, tissues, fluids, washes, exudates, stool, intra-operative swabs, urine.

Minimum Volume

Varies with specimen type. Sputum: 5 ml; Urine: 50 ml

Instructions

Submit in an appropriate sterile screw cap transport container or swab transport device. Sputum: first morning, deep cough.

Transport Container

Various sterile screw cap or swab transport devices.

Transport Temperature

Submit immediately to Microbiology at ambient temperature. Delayed transport: store 2-8C.

Specimen Stability

Up to 3 days 2-8C.

Methodology
Conventional solid media culture and liquid base culture in a continuous monitoring system. Non-sterile body sites decontaminated/concentrated prior to culture.

Setup Schedule

Specimen receipt: 24 hours, 7 days/week. Specimen processing and culture set up: M-F.

Report Available

Direct AFB stains available within 24 hours of specimen receipt in laboratory. Weekly culture updates. Final no growth report after 6 weeks incubation.

Limitations

Culture yield directly related to quality of specimen submitted.

Performed By
Piedmont Atlanta

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.