C AFB BF

Culture, Acid-Fast Bacillus, Sterile Body Fluid

EPIC Test Procedure Code: LAB2535

Performing Lab:
Saint Luke's Regional Laboratories
Required Patient Info:

If there is a high clinical suspicion of pulmonary TB, contact the Saint Luke's Hospital Microbiology Department about testing needs.

Container Type:
Screw-capped sterile container
Specimen Type:

Bone marrow or body fluid

Collection Procedure:

1. Submit the specimen in a screw-capped, sterile container.
2. Label the container with the patient's full name, date of birth, identification number, date and time of collection, initials of the person collecting the specimen, and the specimen source.
3. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
4. The specimen source is required on the request form for processing.

Store and Transport:
Bone marrow - Room temperature;
All other body fluids - Refrigerated
CPT Codes:

87116 - Culture AFB Body Fluid (EAP 30060250) 
87118 - Identification (if appropriate)
87206 - Smear (if appropriate)

Test Schedule:
Monday through Sunday
Test Includes:
A smear will be performed routinely on bone marrow specimens and upon request for all other specimen types.
Reference Ranges:

No acid-fast Bacillus isolated at 42 days.

If positive, acid-fast bacilli will be identified and clinically relevant isolates will be sent to a referral laboratory for susceptibility testing on request.

Critical value (automatic call-back): Positive

Lab Personnel

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