Order Mnemonic:

Culture Acid Fast Bacilli

Dept Name:

MICROBIOLOGY

Collection Requirements:

Fresh early morning sputum specimens collected on successive days are preferred.
Not to exceed 10 mL.
Important that sputum expectoration be "from deep down in the lungs" as opposed to the expectoration of saliva or nasalpharyngeal secretions.
Other types of specimens that may be submitted for mycobacteria isolation are: Tissue, body fluids, urine, gastric, and stool.
Must indicate source.

Transport:

Ambient, sterile container, within 24 hours of collection.

Processing:

If a respiratory culture is ordered on the same specimen, set-up the resp. culture immediately upon receipt, then refrigerate specimen for acid fast set-up on first shift.

Stability After
Processing:

Ambient: 24 hours

Minimum Testing
Volume:

2.0 mL

Unacceptable Conditions:

Specimens appearing to be expectorated as saliva. Inadequate volume.

Reference Range:

No Mycobacterium Species Isolated

Methodology:

Culture

CPT Codes:

87116; 87205

Performed:

Mon-Fri
6:00am - 3:00pm

Reported:

6-7 weeks

NCD/LCD ABN Required:

No