Additional Info:
Includes AFB stain and culture. If indicated, further testing considered medically appropriate will be reflexed, resulting in additional charges.
Methodology: Continuous Monitoring Broth Culture System and Conventional Culture • Microscopic Exam with Fluorochrome Stain
Specimen Requirements: SAMPLE SHOULD ARRIVE WITHIN 6 HOURS OF COLLECTION. Room temperature is unacceptable. Refrigerate specimen and send to lab as soon as possible.
NOTE: CULTURE SITE IS REQUIRED ON REQUEST FORM FOR PROCESSING.
10 mL (2mL min) body fluids or lower respiratory tract specimens or
10 mL (2mL min) gastric lavage or
2 mL (1mL min) CSF or
2 grams (1 gram min) fresh (unfixed) tissue or
40 mL (20mL min) urine collected in a sterile leak-proof container or
1 mL exudate, aspirate, lesion material, ocular specimen collected in a sterile leak-proof container or
1 gram or 1 mL stool collected in a sterile leak-proof container
Tissue and biopsy material: Sterile leak-proof container with small amount of saline, no fixative or preservative.
Gastric lavage fluid: Sterile leak-proof container. Must be neutralized with sodium bicarbonate within 4 hours of collection.
Expectorated sputum: Instruct patient to gargle with water and cough deeply. Three separate early morning collections on at least three consecutive days are recommended.
Reject Criteria
24-hour pooled urine or sputum • Dry swabs • Specimens received in alcohol, formalin, EDTA, lithium heparin or conventional blood culture bottles • Throat/oral/sputum swabs from non-cystic-fibrosis patients • Urine specimens in preservative • Specimens received in expired transport • Specimens that leaked during transit • Specimens broken in transit
Analytical Time:
Negative report (culture): 6 Weeks
Positive report: A preliminary report is generated as soon as AFB are detected.
Days Set Up: Tuesday and Thursday (Day Shift)
CPT Information:
87206 – AFB stain
87116 – mycobacteria preliminary
87015 – mycobacteria culture, final
CPT Reflex information:
An additional charge for Concentration (CPT code(s): 87015) will be added as appropriate.
Identification will be performed at an additional charge for each organism
CPT code(s) 87118: Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time of Flight or
CPT code(s) 87153: AFB Sequencing
If TB is isolated for the first time or after three months after the first isolate from a patient, susceptibilities will be performed at an additional charge (CPT code(s): 87190 per drug.