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HelpTest Code C AFB Culture, Mycobacterium (AFB)
Methodology
Culture with Acid Fast Stain Included
Specimen Requirements
Note: As with other cultures, the administration of antimicrobial therapy prior to culture may make the recovery of pathogens difficult to impossible.
1. Specimen Source is Required.
2. Refer to the Microbiology Specimen Collection Procedure for collection instructions.
Acceptable Specimens: Body Fluid, Tissue, Bones, Blood, Bronchial Alveolar Lavage, Bronchial Brush/Wash, Sputum, Stool, Urine, Wound
Unacceptable Specimens: Swab Collections
Day(s) Test Set Up
Monday through Sunday
Reference Values
ACID-FAST BACILLI CULTURE
No acid-fast bacilli isolated after 8 weeks
Critical value (automatic call-back): positive AFB growth
ACID-FAST BACILLI SMEAR
No acid-fast bacilli seen
Critical value (automatic call-back): all positive smears
Test Classification and CPT Coding
87015-Concentration for infectious agent
87116-Culture
87206-Acid-fast bacilli smear
Performing Laboratory
Beebe Healthcare Laboratory
Performing Location
Margaret H. Rollins Laboratory
Specimen Transport Temperature
Refrigerate
Additional Information
Cultures are worked up and reported per standard Microbiology guidelines. Full organism identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing are performed when appropriate and will incur additional CPT codes and charges. Pertinent patient history should be communicated directly to the Microbiology Department when necessary (patient travel history, suspect and/or rule out certain pathogens, any unusual circumstances, etc) so that the culture can be worked up appropriately. If additional workup is required beyond the final culture report, please contact the Microbiology Department at (302)-645-3563 within 5 days to discuss the case with a technologist.