Collection Instructions
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Submit only 1 of the following specimens:
Acceptable Specimens:
Bronchial lavage, bronchial wash, or sputum
Other specimens (ie, cerebrospinal fluid, other body fluid and tissue) are tested by special request only and require the Laboratory Director’s approval.
Bronchial Lavage or Bronchial Wash
1. Collect 15 mL (minimum volume: 5 mL) of bronchial lavage or bronchial wash 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: 1. Grossly bloody specimen may inhibit assay.
2. Specimen source is required on request form for processing.
Sputum
1. Collect 15 mL (minimum volume: 5 mL) of a first-morning “deep cough” sputum specimen into a Sputum Collection Kit.
2. Instruct patient to brush his/her teeth and/or rinse mouth well with water to minimize contaminating specimen with food particles, mouthwash, or oral drugs.
3. Have patient remove dentures.
4. Instruct patient to take a deep breath, hold it momentarily, then cough deeply and vigorously into Sputum Collection Kit.
5. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
6. Send specimen refrigerated.
7. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note: 1. Grossly bloody specimen may inhibit assay.
2. Specimen source is required on request form for processing.
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Methodology
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Transcription Mediated Amplification (TMA)
Detects Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex
In patients with high clinical suspicion of active tuberculosis (symptoms, exposure, medical history), the AMTD can be helpful in identifying Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex more rapidly than traditional culture methods. But in patients with low clinical suspicion, false positives may occur with enough frequency to cause a low positive predictive value with the AMTD test results. Therefore, the AMTD test should not be used in such cases.
The AMTD test should not be used as a replacement for the acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear or culture test. An accompanying AFB smear and AFB culture is required when the AMTD test is ordered.
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