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Specimen Requirements for Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB)
The Clinical Guide to Services is a comprehensive reference guide of testing services, shipping information, and submission requirements for Minnesota’s Infectious Disease Laboratory.
Even though there are ongoing efforts to keep information current, some information may not be up to date due to recent changes in testing procedures and/or regulation. Many of these tests are only available with prior approval from the Minnesota Department of Health.
If you cannot find what you are looking for in the guide, please Contact the Infectious Disease Laboratory.
Back to agent: Mycobacterium spp.
AFB Specimen Requirements Chart Printable Version: (PDF: 2 pages/ 156KB)
|
Specimen
Type |
Collection
|
Transport/
Storage Temperature |
Rejection Criteria
|
Comments
|
| Abscess – cellulitis, eye exudate, skin lesion | Optimal volume = as much as possible. Remove surface exudate by wiping with sterile saline or 70% alcohol. Collect fluid abscess material with syringe. For open lesions/abscesses, aspirate material from under the margin of the lesion/abscess. |
Refrigerate | - Formalin or other preservatives - Swab |
|
| Blood | Optimal volume = 10 mL Aseptically collect whole blood in sodium polyanethol sulfonate (SPS – yellow top), or heparin (green top) collector tube. |
Room temperature | Clotted blood -EDTA (purple top) -ACD (yellow top - acid citrate dextrose) - < 5 mL adults - < 1 mL child |
|
| Body Fluids (pleural, pericardial, peritoneal, paracentesis, thoracentesis, synovial, etc.) | Optimal volume = 15 mL Collect aseptically. For extremely bloody specimens use an SPS (yellow top) or heparin (green top) blood collection tube. |
Refrigerate | - < 10 mL adult - < 1 mL pediatric -Swab -Synovial fluid < 1ml |
|
| Bone Marrow | Optimal volume = 10 mL Aseptically collect bone marrow in sodium polyanethol sulfonate (SPS – yellow top) or heparin (green top). Mix contents after collection. |
Room temperature | -EDTA (purple top) -ACD (yellow top - acid citrate dextrose) - < 1 mL |
|
| Bronchoalveolar lavage, bronchial washings, brushings, endotracheal and transtracheal aspirates | Optimal volume = 5 mL or more Place bronchial brushing in sterile container with up to 5 mL sterile saline. |
Refrigerate | - < 3 mL adult - < 1 mL child |
|
| Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) | Optimal volume = 10 mL | Refrigerate | - < 2 mL | |
| Gastric Aspirate/Lavage Fluid | Optimal volume = < 15 mL in 100 mg sodium carbonate – adjust to neutral pH. Collect in early morning before patient eats and while they are still in bed. Perform lavage with 25-50 mL of chilled, sterile, distilled water. 1 specimen/day on 3 consecutive days. |
Room temperature | -Specimen that has not been neutralized. -Multiple specimens taken from same day -Swab |
|
| Sputum | Optimal volume = 5 - 10 mL Early-morning specimen from deep, productive cough. Expectorated sputum: instruct patient as to difference between saliva and sputum. Have patient rinse mouth with water before collecting sputum to minimize contamination with food, mouthwash, oral drugs, etc. Induced sputum: use sterile hypertonic saline. Indicate on request if specimen is induced, as these watery specimens resemble saliva. |
Refrigerate | -24 hour pooled specimens -Multiple specimens taken from same day that are < 8 hours apart - < 3 mL |
|
| Stool | Optimal volume = > 1 gram | Refrigerate | - <1 gram - Swab |
Stool cultures for mycobacteria are discouraged |
| Tissue biopsy -Lymph node | Optimal volume = as much as possible Collect aseptically during surgery or cutaneous biopsy procedure. Add 2-3 mL of sterile saline for transport |
Refrigerate | -Formalin or any other preservative - Swab |
|
| Urine | Optimal volume = 40 mL First morning specimen is preferred. |
Refrigerate | -24-hour pooled -Multiple specimens from one day -Any preservative - < 10 mL adult - <5 mL child |
Back to List of Tests
Specimen Requirements for Mycobacterium
|
Specimen Type
|
Specimen Requirements
|
Rejection Criteria
|
| Agar slant (LJ, 7H11, or other), plate | Pure culture, visible growth. Screw cap tubes are preferred, but properly transported plates will be accepted if tubes are not available. | 1. Contaminated 2. Liquefied 3. Broken in transit 4. No visible growth |
| Roche Sepitcheck™ Vials, MGIT tubes, or other TB culture systems (AFB positive) | 1. Broken in transit |