Preliminary results are reported in 12-24 hours. The health care provider will be notified of positive cultures. Negative cultures are reported after 6 weeks.
Test Updated:
AFBS
Gastric Culture, AFB
Culture, Gastric, AFB
Mycobacteria Culture, Gastric
TB Culture, Gastric
AFB Smear and Culture
BAFB
AFB BTA CULTURE
Acid Fast Bacilli Culture, Gastric Fluid
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Test Overview
Culture
Isolate and identify mycobacteria
No growth of mycobacteria
* Reference ranges may change over time. Please refer to the original patient report when evaluating results.
Specimen Requirements
Please contact the laboratory at 936-6877 for smear only or culture only requests. Follow procedure for gastric aspiration. MUST be collected on waking, from a fasting patient. Do not store. Send directly to the Microbiology Laboratory; must be received within 4 hours for neutralization. Rejection criteria: not received within 4 hours of collection, not first morning collection.
Perform gastric aspiration. The specimen must be collected on waking, from a fasting patient. Send the specimen within 4 hours of collection or neutralize the specimen to pH 6.5 - 7.5 within 4 hours of collection. Refrigerate and send neutralized specimen within 24 hours; indicate on the requisition that the specimen has been neutralized. Indicate specimen source, collection date/time, current antibiotic therapy and clinical diagnosis. If unacceptable specimen is received, the client will be called and another specimen will be requested before disposal of the original specimen.