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Lab Test Dictionary

Mycobacterium, Culture, with Fluorochrome Smear (4554)

Methodology

Continuous Monitoring Broth Culture System and Conventional Culture ; Microscopic Exam with Fluorochrome Stain


Synonyms

AFB; Acid Fast Bacili; Mycobacteria; Mycobacterial; MTB; TB, 92520, 92523

Specimen Type

See Collection Instructions

Performing Lab

Quest Diagnostics San Juan Capistrano


Epic ID

LAB01288

Lab Test Days

Daily

Standard TAT

50-51 Days


Collection Information

Specimen Required

2-10 mL Body fluids or lower respiratory tract specimens; 2-10 Gastric lavage/aspirate; 1-2 mL CSF; 1-2 grams Fresh (unfixed) tissue; 20-40 mL Urine; 1 mL or 1 Swab wound, exudates, aspirates, lesion material, ocular specimens; or 1 gram or 1 mL Stool

Container Type

Sterile Container

Collection Instructions

Swabs in Amies liquid, Amies gel swab, Stuarts or ESwab transport systems, ONLY if tissue biopsy or wound aspirate is not available; Samples in anaerobic transport medium, ONLY if it is an irreplaceable sample type; Throat/oral/sputum swabs from cystic fibrosis patients. Tissue and biopsy material: Sterile leak-proof container with small amount of saline, no fixative or preservative. Gastric lavage fluid: Sterile leak-proof container. Must be neutralized with sodium bicarbonate within 4 hours of collection. Expectorated sputum: Instruct patient to gargle with water and cough deeply. Three separate early morning collections on at least three consecutive days are recommended.


Processing Information - Lab Use Only

Transport Temperature

Refrigerate-Only

Specimen Stability

Room Temp: Unacceptable; Refrigerated: 5 Days; Frozen: Unacceptable

Rejection Criteria

24 hour pooled urine or sputum; Dry swabs; Specimens received in alcohol, formalin, EDTA, lithium heparin or conventional blood culture bottles; Throat/oral/sputum swabs from non-cystic-fibrosis patients; Urine specimens in preservative; Specimens received in expired transport; Specimens that leaked during transit; Specimens broken in transit

Processing Instructions

Gastric lavage/aspirate: Must be neutralized (pH 6.5-7.5) with sodium bicarbonate within 4 hours of collection. Expectorated sputum: Three separate early morning collections on at least three consecutive days are recommended. Indicate source in comments, on specimen and on batch sheet.


CPT Codes

87015, 87116, 87206; 87149; 87118; 87153; 87190


Revised

2/27/23

Initials

SA