Tissue Mycobacterial (AFB) Smear and Culture

Synonyms

• ACID FAST BACILLI
• ACID FAST BACILLUS
• ACID FAST TISSUE
• ACID-FAST
• AF TIS
• AFB STAIN
• CX TISSUE AFB
• FLUOROCHROME
• KINYOUN
• LAB10218
• MTB
• MYCOBACTERIUM
• NTM
• TB
• TUBERCULOSIS

Cerner Name

Acid Fast Tissue

Clinical Info

Mycobacteria, particularly Mycobacterium tuberculosis,
pose a significant global public health challenge, with early diagnosis being
crucial for preventing transmission and initiating prompt treatment.
Additionally, approximately 200 known species of nontuberculous mycobacteria
(NTM), commonly found in the environment (soil and water), are emerging as
opportunistic human pathogens, with a rising prevalence of pulmonary NTM
infections. 

Specimen Sources

Abdomen/Peritoneum Abscess Adenoids Adrenal, Left Adrenal, Right Amniotic Sac Ankle, Left Ankle, Right Anus Aortic Valve Appendix Arm, Left Arm, Right Autopsy Autopsy Brain Only Autopsy Pediatric Axilla, Left Axilla, Right Back, Lower Back, Upper Bile Duct Bladder Bone Bone Marrow Brain Breast, Left Breast, Right Bronchial, Left Bronchial, Right Buttock, Left Buttock, Right Cervical-Endocervical Cervical-Vaginal Cervix Cheek, Left Cheek, Right Chest Chin Colon Decubitus ulcers Diaphragm Duodenum Ear, Left Ear, Right Elbow, Left Elbow, Right Endocervix Endometrium Esophagus Extranodal Lymphoid Eye, Left Eye, Right Fallopian Tube, Left Fallopian Tube, Right Fibroids Finger, Left Finger, Right Foot, Left Foot, Right Forehead Foreign Body Frontal sinus Gallbladder Gastric Groin Hand, Left Hand, Right Hardware/Implants Heart Hepatobiliary Duct Hip, Left Hip, Right Ileum Jaw, Left Jaw, Right Jejunum Joint Kidney, Left Kidney, Right Knee, Left Knee, Right Labia Larynx Leg, Left Leg, Right Lip, Lower Lip, Upper Liver Lung, Left Lung, Left Lower Lobe Lung, Left Upper Lobe Lung, Right Lung, Right Lower Lobe Lung, Right Middle Lobe Lung, Right Upper Lobe Lymph Node Mediastinum Meninges/Dura Misc Mitral Valve Muscle Nares Nasopharynx Navel Neck Nipple, Left Nipple, Right Nose Oral Mucosa Oropharynx Oropharynx/Throat Ovarian Cyst Ovary Ovary, Left Ovary, Right Pancreas Pancreatic Duct Paranasal Parathyroid, Left Parathyroid, Right Paratubal Cyst Pelvic Pelvis Penis Pericardium Peritoneal Pharynx Placenta Pleura, Left Pleura, Right Product of Conception Prostate Prosthetic valve Rectum Retroperitoneum Salivary Gland, Left Salivary Gland, Right Scalp Scrotum Shoulder, Left Shoulder, Right Sinus, Nasal Sinus, Nasal Skin Skull Soft Tissue Spinal Cord Spleen Stomach Testicle Testis, Left Testis, Right Thyroid Thyroid, Isthmus Thyroid, Left Thyroid, Right Thyroid, Total Toe, Left Toe, Right Tongue Tonsil Tonsil, Left Tonsil, Right Trachea Tricuspid valve Ureter, Left Ureter, Right Urethra Uterus Vagina Vas Deferens, Left Vas Deferens, Right Vascular Vertebra Vulva Wound Deep Wound/Skin Superficial Wrist, Left Wrist, Right Show more...

Specimen Types

Aspirate Bone Calculus/Stone Foreign Body Tissue

Specimen Volume

5-10 mm

Container

Sterile

Collection Instructions

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Fresh Tissue
1. Obtain fresh tissue (size 5-10mm3 in size)and place specimen in a screw-capped, sterile container.
2. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
3. Send specimen refrigerated.
4. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note: Specimen source is required on request form for processing.
* Rejection Criteria: Quantity not sufficient, specimen leaking, unlabeled or mislabeled specimen, specimen without a minimum of 2 patient identifiers, specimen received after prolonged delay (more than 7 days), specimen in fixative.

Transport Instructions

Refrigerated
(2°-8°C), transport to the laboratory as soon as possible.

Specimen Stability

Up to 3 days at 2°-8°C (refrigerated)

Methodology

The specimen is processed and
an acid fast smear is performed to
detect acid-fast bacilli. . All specimens are cultured in broth and
solid media for up to 6 weeks for the detection and identification of M.
tuberculosis complex and nontuberculous mycobacteria.
M. tuberculosis complex  isolates are referred to the department of
health for further speciation and susceptibility testing. 

Days Performed

Monday through Sunday

Performing Laboratories

Northwell Health Laboratories -Little Neck Parkway
If culture is positive, additional charge(s)/CPT code(s) may apply for identification
and/or antibiotic susceptibilities performed when appropriate.

CPT

87116 - culture
87206 - smear

PDM

6201260

Results

Result Interpretation

Forms