Test Overview
BD MGIT, 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.
Test Details
Preliminary results on all cultures are reported in 12-24 hours. Negative cultures are reported after 6 weeks.
- AFBS
- Sputum Culture, AFB
- Culture, Sputum, AFB
- Mycobacteria Culture, Sputum
- TB Culture, Sputum
- AFB Smear and Culture
- BAFB
- AFB BTA CULTURE
- Acid Fast Bacilli Culture, Sputum
Specimen Requirements
The patient should be instructed to remove dentures, rinse mouth with water and cough deeply, expectorating sputum into the sputum collection cup. First morning sputum yields best recovery of AFB. For optimum recovery, send immediately. If specimen must be stored, refrigerate immediately after specimen collection; do not incubate. May be refrigerated up to 24 hrs. Specify specimen source, collection date/time, current antibiotic therapy, and clinical diagnosis. Do not submit more than four specimens in one 7 day period unless by prior arrangement. If an unacceptable specimen is received, the client will be notified and another specimen will be requested before disposal of the specimen.
Additional Information
Test includes culture, acid-fast smear and concentration of specimen. Recommended screening procedure is 3 first morning specimens of adequate volume submitted on 3 consecutive days. If the acid-fast smear is positive, the Mycobacterium tuberculosis molecular detection PCR, Respiratory, will be performed automatically at an additional charge. Test includes identification of organisms and susceptibility testing of potentially pathogenic organism(s) at an additional charge unless specifically declined. Susceptibilities are performed on the first organism isolated from a patient and at 2-6 month intervals if that organism continues to be isolated while the patient is on therapy. M. tuberculosis susceptibility testing is sent to the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS), M. avium complex susceptibilities are sent to Mayo Medical laboratory and rapidly growing Mycobacteria susceptibilities are performed in the UMHS Microbiology department; although there is no charge for testing, MLabs charges a handling fee for processing and forwarding specimens to MDHHS. A subculture of the isolate is kept for 1 year by the Microbiology Laboratory for further testing, if necessary. By ordering this test the clinician acknowledges that additional reflex testing will be performed and billed at a separate additional charge if indicated.