AFB Culture Only




Test Mnemonic

AFCO

CPT Codes

  • 87116 - QTY (1)
  • 87015 - QTY (1)

LOINC ®

543-9

Aliases

  • Culture, AFB Blood
  • Culture, Mycobacteria Blood
  • Culture, Mycobacteria Bone Marrow
  • Mycobacteria Culture Only

Performing Laboratory

Cleveland Clinic Laboratories


Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
2 mLBone marrowIsolator tube (aerobic only) AmbientDraw 1-2 mL bone marrow using a heparinized syringe. Transfer to a pediatric Isolator tube (available from Microbiology, 216-444-1092).
10 mLBloodIsolator 10 microbial tube AmbientRecommended volume for adults is 10mL. For pediatric patients, draw 1.5 mL blood into a 1.5 mL Isolator tube (available from Microbiology, 216-444-1092)

Alternate Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
2 mL Sodium or Lithium heparin (Green)  Acceptable container for bone marrow specimens. Transport promptly to Microbiology.

Minimum Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
1.5 mL    Minimum for blood.
1 mL    Minimum for Bone Marrow

Stability

Environmental Condition Description
Ambient< 8 hrs
RefrigeratedUnacceptable
FrozenUnacceptable

Days Performed

7 days a week

Turnaround Time

9 weeks

Methodology

Name Description
Culture 

Reference Range

AFB Culture
Sex Age From Age To Type Range Range Unit
       Negative for Mycobacteria Growth 

Special Info

An AFB stain will not be performed. Blood cultures for AFB should ideally be drawn prior to administration of antimicrobials. Patient Preparation: For blood cultures, select vein to use. Wipe off venipuncture site using a 70% alcohol pad. Apply Chloraprep to the skin over the selected venipuncture site and apply using up and down and back and forth strokes for a full 30 seconds. Allow the site to dry completely for 30 - 60 seconds. Swab septum of Isolator tube or Myco/F bottle using 70% alcohol. Draw 10 ml into adult Isolator tube, 1.5 ml into Pediatric Isolator tube or 5 ml if direct draw into the Myco/ F bottle. After inoculation, clean septum with 70% alcohol. Transport to Microbiology with 4-6 hrs is recommended. Do NOT transport glass Myco/F bottles using the pneumatic tube system.

Clinical Info

An AFB Culture only test should be performed to identify an infection due to mycobacteria in blood or bone marrow specimens. Broth medium will be utilized for culturing blood or bone marrow sites. Identification of positive cultures will be performed utilizing current methodologies. Susceptibility testing will be performed on significant isolates. Additional charges may apply (87118, 87153, 87186). A single negative culture does not rule out the presence of a mycobacterial infection.