| Ordering Code | 612 |
|---|---|
| Test Name | Acid Fast Smear |
| Alias | AFB Smear |
| Preferred Specimen | Any specimen type |
| Optimum Volume | Lower Respiratory Specimens: 5 mL 2 Bronch Brush slides Tissue: 1 gm Sterile Body Fluids (CSF, Pleural Fld., etc.): 5 mL Urine: 50 mL Stool, Fresh: 5 gm Gastric Aspirate: 5 mL Wound Aspirate: 3 mL |
| Collection Instructions | Indicate the specimen source on the requisition Lower Respiratory Specimens: First morning sputum (not saliva) from three separate days are recommended Tissue: Tissue is preferred over swabs Urine: First morning, clean catch, mid-stream specimen is preferred Wound Aspirate: Aspirate is preferred over swabs. |
| Handling Instructions | Lower Respiratory Specimens: Refrigerate as soon as possible. Add sterile normal saline to Bronch Brushings to prevent drying. Allow any slides made at the time of collection to air dry thoroughly before placing in slide holders. Bronchial Brushing slides should be sent separately from the washes and kept at ambient temperature Tissue: Add sterile normal saline to prevent drying of specimen Sterile Body Fluids (CSF, Pleural Fld., etc.): If large volumes of fluid are collected, take a 10 mL of aliquot of the well-mixed specimen Wound Aspirate: Transfer aspirate to a sterile container or remove needle and cap syringe. DO NOT send syringes with needles attached This test CANNOT be ordered without an AFB culture unless the patient has a previous AFB positive history or when only a slide submitted. |
| Transport Requirements | Oahu: Refrigerated Airline: Refrigerated Transport any slides at ambient temperature. |
| Specimen Stability | Ambient: 2 Hours Refrigerated: 5 Days CSF is also stable at 33-37 deg C for 5 days |
| Rejection Criteria | Specimen older than stability limits, Pooled specimen, Frozen, Preservatives used, Syringe with needle attached Note: specimens with rejection concerns that cannot be recollected (e.g. surgical tissue) will be processed upon receipt and the ordering physician consulted. |
| Avail. Stat | NO |
| Analytic Time | 1 Day |
| Methodology | Microscopic examination of fluorescent stained/carbol fuchsin stained concentrated smear |
Reference range(s)
The reference ranges listed below are valid on this date of June 29, 2025.
| Component | Age | Male Norm | Male Critical Low | Male Critical High | Female Norm | Female Critical High | Female Critical Low | Units | Add'l info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Site: | ALL | See report. | |||||||
| Acid Fast Smear: | ALL | See report. |