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Test Code LAB877 AFB CULTURE

Specimen Information

Container Specimen Temperature Collect Vol Submit Vol Min Vol
Sterile Container Fluid Refrigerate 15 mL 15 mL 2 mL
Sterile Container *CSF Refrigerate 10 mL 10 mL 2 mL
Sterile Container **Respiratory Fluids Refrigerate 5 mL 5 mL 3 mL
Sterile Container Aspirated Pus Refrigerate 2-3 mL 2-3 mL 1 mL
Sterile Container Tissue Refrigerate 2 mm 2 mm N/A
Sterile Container ***Sputum Refrigerate 5 mL 5 mL 3 mL
Sterile Container Respiratory Biopsy Refrigerate 2 mm 2 mm N/A
Sterile Container Lung Tissue Refrigerate 2 mm 2 mm 1 mm
Sterile Container ****Urine Refrigerate 40 mL 40 mL 10 mL
Sterile Container *****Gastric washings Ambient 15 mL 15 mL 10 mL
Sterile Container *Feces Refrigerate 1 gram 1 gram 1 gram

Specimens must be received within 48 hours of collection and must be sealed in a leak proof container. 

*Pathology Approval is required for CSF and Feces specimens.  10 mL of CSF is recommended if Mycobacteria is strongly suspected.

**Respiratory fluids: BAL, Bronch wash

***Sputum (3 first morning specimens on different days is recommended, however 3 specimens collected 8 hours apart is acceptable as long as one specimen was collected as a first morning specimen.)

****AFB Culture on urine is indicated for patients on BCG Therapy for bladder cancer.  First morning specimen preferred. 24 hour collection not accepted.
AFB smear is recommended with culture.

*****Gastric washings AFB Cultures: the lab must be notified prior to specimen collection and the sample must be delivered to the lab within 1 hour of collection.

 

Test Schedule / Analytical Time / Test Priority

Monday – Friday / Reported when positive. Negative final at 56 days / AFB Smear NOT available STAT

Method

Culture

CPT(s)

Description CPT Code
AFB Culture 87116
Concentration for Infectious Agents 87015

Testing includes culture, identification, (additional charges/CPT codes may apply) and if culture results warrant, susceptibility testing (at an additional charge) of all indicated organisms.

Instrumentation

Biomerieux Bact/Alert

Reference Range

Negative: No acid-fast bacilli isolated, final at 8 weeks

Section

Microbiology-2

Performing Location

University of Vermont Medical Center

Is the UVMMC lab NY State Certified to perform this testing?  Yes/No

Yes