Acid Fast Bacillus (AFB) Blood Culture (Sendout)

General Information

Lab Name

Acid Fast Bacillus (AFB) Blood Culture (Sendout)

Lab Code

RAFBBC

External Test Id

0060060

Description

Ordering Recommendation: Identify acid-fast bacteria in blood or bone marrow specimens. Identification and susceptibility testing is performed on positive cultures at an additional charge. If PZA susceptibility testing is requested for M. tuberculosis complex isolates, contact your local public health laboratory or the CDC for pncA gene testing for PZA resistance mutations. ARUP performs testing for other first-line drugs: rifampin, isoniazid, and ethambutol.

Collection Note: Limited sample stability. Specimens must arrive must arrive at ARUP Laboratories within 72 hours of collection.

References

Synonyms

0060060, 31916, Acid-Fast Bacillus, AFBBC, AFBNM

Components

Code Name
RAFBSP AFB Blood Culture Specimen Type
RAFBPR AFB Blood Culture Preliminary Report
RAFBFR AFB Blood Culture Final Report

Interpretation

Method

Continuous Monitoring Blood Culture/Culture

Reference Range

See individual components

Ref. Range Notes

Reference Interval: No growth at 42 days.

Guidelines

Ordering & Collection

Specimen Type

Blood, Bone Marrow

Collection

Collection:

  1. Contact Lab Medicine Specimen Processing Services at the applicable site to obtain BD Bactec™ Myco/F Lytic bottles.
    • UW-MT or UW-NW: 206-598-6224
    • HMC: 206-744-3451
  2. Aseptic collection required. Disinfect draw site and the top of the bottle. Allow disinfectant to dry completely. Do not touch the draw site or bottle top after this step.
  3. Collect blood or bone marrow directly into the Bactec™ Myco/F Lytic bottle. Bone marrow may also be collected in a syringe and transferred to the bottle using sterile technique.
  4. Do not overfill or underfill. Attempt to inoculate the requested maximum volume for optimal sensitivity of culture.
    • Whole Blood: 1-5 mL in Bactec™ Myco/F Lytic bottle
    • Bone Marrow: 1-5 mL (Min: 0.5 mL) in Bactec™ Myco/F Lytic bottle
  5. Forward sample(s) to the laboratory.

Additional Resource: BD Bactec™ Blood Culture Collection Instructions

Supply Item: PurchasePath Product: 442794 or ARUP Supply # 31916

Handling Instructions

Outside Laboratories:

  • Clients should only submit orders through UW DLMP if the sample can be transported promptly. Samples must arrive at ARUP Laboratories within 72 hours of collection. Allow for one day of transport from UW-MT to ARUP. Samples are not sent out on Sundays.
  • Store and transport sample(s) at ambient temperature.

Stability: Ambient (preferred): 72 hours; Refrigerated: 72 hours; Frozen: Unacceptable.

Quantity

requested: 1-5 mL whole blood or bone marrow in Bactec™ Myco/F Lytic bottle
minimum: 1 mL whole blood or 0.5 mL bone marrow in Bactec™ Myco/F Lytic bottle

Processing

Store and transport samples at ambient temperature. Expedite processing and transport to UW-MT Sendouts. Samples must arrive at ARUP Laboratories within 72 hours of collection.

Result-at-Entry:

  • RAFBSP (AFB Blood Culture Specimen Type): <Enter the appropriate specimen type code from the table below.>

Specimen Type Codes:

ETC Translation
WB Whole Blood
BNM Bone Marrow

Sendouts:

  • Order ARUP Test: 0060060
  • Interfaced: Yes [Interface: 602; Department: ARPA]
  • Samples must arrive at ARUP Laboratories within 72 hours of collection.

Stability: Ambient (preferred): 72 hours; Refrigerated: 72 hours; Frozen: Unacceptable.

Performance

LIS Dept Code

Sendouts ARUP Lab (AB) (ARPA)

Performing Location(s)

Sendout ARUP Laboratories, Inc.
800-522-2787

500 Chipeta Way
Salt Lake City, UT 84108

Frequency

Performed: Sunday through Saturday. Reported: 1-43 days. Negative culture reported at 43 days. Positive culture reported as soon as detected.

Available STAT?

No

Billing & Coding

CPT codes

87116

LOINC

533-0

Interfaced Order Code

UOW6449