Additional Info:
Includes AFB stain and culture. If indicated, further testing considered medically appropriate will be reflexed, resulting in additional charges.
Methodology: Conventional culture, Bactec, and Microscopic Exam
Specimen Requirements: SAMPLE SHOULD ARRIVE WITHIN 6 HOURS OF COLLECTION. Room temperature is unacceptable. Refrigerate specimen and send to lab as soon as possible.
NOTE: CULTURE SITE IS REQUIRED ON REQUEST FORM FOR PROCESSING.
Blood:
1 SPS tube as collected for blood culture.
Body fluids:
The following specimens may be collected as stated below:
Bronchial washings, gastric lavage, pleural fluids, synovial fluid, spinal fluid, tissue or wound/abscess.
10 mL of sterile body fluid in a screw-capped, sterile vial supplied by Meadville Medical Center Laboratory. Refrigerate specimen immediately after collection. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
NOTE: Preferred specimen for a wound is either a biopsy specimen or an aspirate. If a swab is necessary, it must be submitted Amies medium.
Sputum:
Sputum (MINIMUM: 5.0 mL) from first morning deep cough in a sterile, double-walled specimen container supplied by Meadville Medical Center Laboratory. To obtain adequate sensitivity, it may be necessary to collect a specimen on each of 3 successive days. Submit each specimen separately. To remove some indigenous flora of mouth area, have patient rinse mouth with water just prior to obtaining specimen. Refrigerate specimen immediately after collection. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
NOTE:
• Avoid contaminating the specimen with saliva.
• “Pooled” sputum is unacceptable.
Tissue:
2 gm of tissue in a screw-capped, sterile vial supplied by Meadville Medical Center Laboratory. Refrigerate specimen immediately after collection. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Urine:
Submit a first morning, clean-catch, midstream urine specimen in a urine sample cup supplied by Meadville Medical Center Laboratory. Send entire specimen collected, or as much as possible, on each of three consecutive mornings. Refrigerate specimen immediately after collection. See “Clean-Catch Urine Collections.”
Do not send a 24 hour pooled specimen.
Do not collect urine from the drainage bag when an indwelling catheter is in place.
NOTE:
• Refer to “Patient Information” section in back of manual for patient handout explaining collection methods for this test.
• “Pooled” urine is unacceptable.
Analytical Time:
Negative report (culture): 39 days
Positive report: A preliminary report is generated as soon as AFB are detected.
Days Set Up: Monday through Sunday
CPT Information:
87206 – AFB stain
87116 – mycobacteria preliminary
87015 – mycobacteria culture, final