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Test Code LAB877 Culture, Acid Fast (AFB) with Smear, Varies

Important Note

  • Sources required on patient label and in order.
  • Identification and susceptibility tests are billed separately from culture.
  • ESwab collection acceptable but not recommended due to limited specimen volume.
  • Gastric lavage specimens must be treated with equal parts 1% sodium bicarbonate prior to transport to reference laboratory (done by lab)
    • Dilute 1.0mL of 7.5% sodium bicarbonate with 13.0mL of sterile deionized water.
    • Mix
    • Solution is stable 24 hours refrigerated.
  • For patients with clinical and chest x-ray findings compatible with tuberculosis, three sputum samples should be collected over an 8–24-hour period (including at least one first morning specimen).
Infectious

Additional Codes

Sunquest: CAFB

Collection

Patient Preparation:

Aseptic techniques must be used in obtaining and transporting specimen.

Specimen Type:

Sputum, Bronchoalveolar Lavage, Gastric Aspirate, Urine, Body Fluid, Tissue

Preferred: Sterile Container

Acceptable: Copan eSwab

** eSwabs acceptable but not recommended due to limited specimen volume.

Minimum Volume:

Fluids/Sputum: 5mL

eSwab: entire swab

Reasons for Rejection:

Dry specimen, leaking container, inadequate volume of sputum or fluid speimens (<5mL), specimen collected in improper container or does not meet collection, storage, or transport requirements.

Stability

Ambient: 24 hours

Refrigerated: 7 days (Preferred)

Frozen: Unacceptable

Reference Range

Culture Dependent

Methodology

Standard mycobacterial culture and identification.

AFB smear

Performing Laboratory

UnityPoint Health Pathology Laboratory Ankeny, IA

Days Performed:

Set up Sunday-Saturday (Cultures read on day shift only).

Analytical Time:

AFB Smear: 24 hours

AFB Culture: 8 weeks

CPT Codes

Culture- 87015

Smear- 87206

Identification-87116