AFB Stain Only | Cleveland Clinic Laboratories

AFB Stain Only Print

Test Mnemonic

AFS

CPT Codes

87206 - QTY (1)

Aliases

Acid Fast Stain

Performing Laboratory

Cleveland Clinic Laboratories

Specimen Requirements

Volume	Type	Container	Transport Temperature	Special Instructions
5 mL	Sputum	Sterile container	Ambient	Note: Specimen may be induced or expectorated. A minimum of three early morning sputum specimens collected on separate days is recommended. Specimens must be collected at least 8 hours apart. Plan collection of these specimens to ensure they reach the laboratory before 12:00 noon. Refrigeration is preferred if transport is delayed longer than 2 - 4 hrs.
5 mL	Aspirate, bronchial	Sterile container	Ambient	Note: larger volumes improve recovery. Refrigeration is preferred if transport is delayed longer than 2 - 4 hrs.
5 mL	Aspirate, tracheal	Sterile container	Ambient	Note: larger volumes improve recovery. Refrigeration is preferred if transport is delayed longer than 2 - 4 hrs.
5 mL	Aspirate, gastric	Sterile container	Ambient	Note: Patient must be fasting. Transport: transport to laboratory for receipt within 4 hours of collection. For increased sensitivity, collect specimens on 3 consecutive days.
5 mL	Fluid, body	Sterile container	Ambient	Transport Temp.: Ambient; Refrigeration is preferred if transport is delayed longer than 2 - 4 hrs. Swabs are unacceptable.
2 mL	Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)	Sterile container	Ambient	Note: Culture yield is increased with larger specimen volumes. Transport Temp.: Ambient; Refrigeration is preferred if transport is delayed longer than 2 - 4 hrs.
Unspecified	Aspirate(s)	Sterile container	Ambient	Note: Larger volumes improve recovery. Swabs are unacceptable. Transport Temp.: Ambient; Refrigeration is preferred if transport is delayed longer than 2 - 4 hrs. Swabs are unacceptable.
1 g	Tissue	Sterile container	Ambient	Note: Add a small amount of sterile saline or sterile water to keep tissue moist. Send separate portions to Surgical Pathology. Separate the portion of the surgical specimen submitted for AFB Culture using sterile technique. Transport Temp.: Ambient; Refrigeration is preferred if transport is delayed longer than 2 - 4 hrs. Swabs are unacceptable.
5 mL	Urine, random	Sterile container	Ambient	Note: 40mL volume preferred. Submit entire first morning void in sterile container. For increased sensitivity, collect specimens on 3 consecutive days. Twenty-four hour collections are unacceptable. Patient Preparation: Usual preparation for clean-catch mid-void urine collection. Transport Temp.: Ambient; Refrigeration is preferred if transport is delayed longer than 2 - 4 hrs.
1 g	Stool	Sterile container	Ambient	Transport Temp.: Ambient; Refrigeration is preferred if transport is delayed longer than 2 - 4 hrs. Swabs are unacceptable.

Minimum Specimen Requirements

Volume	Type	Container	Collect Temperature	Transport Temperature	Special Instructions
2 mL

Stability

Environmental Condition	Description
Ambient	24 hours
Refrigerated	1 week
Frozen	Unacceptable

Days Performed

Sun - Sat

Turnaround Time

2 days

Methodology

Name	Description
Stain

Reference Range

AFB Stain
Sex	Age From	Age To	Type	Range	Range Unit
~

Special Info

For AFB stain positive respiratory and fresh tissue specimens, Mycobacteria tuberculosis complex versus nontuberculous Mycobacteria PCR will be added at an additional charge. Test should be ordered by Outside Clients only. Culture is recommended in conjunction with AFB stain (order code= AFC).

Clinical Info

Acid Fast Stain should be ordered in conjunction with culture to diagnose an infection due to mycobacteria. Smear alone is not recommended unless following a patient previously diagnosed as positive for acid fast bacilli. A single negative culture does not rule out the presence of a mycobacterial infection.