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HelpTest Code ACSF CSF Acid Fast Bacilli Culture
Infectious
Specimen and Container/Tube
Specimen Type: Cerebrospinal fluid
Preferred Specimen: Sterile, sealable, screw-cap container
Volume
Minimum Volume: 0.5 mL
Specimen Stability
|
Storage Temperature |
Stability |
|
Room temperature (20 - 25°C) |
not acceptable |
|
Refrigerated (2 - 10°C) |
24 hours |
|
Frozen (-20°C) |
not acceptable |
Collection Instructions
Specimen Collection: Skin decontamination with Chloraprep.
Specimen Transport: Immediate.
Specimen Handling and Transport Instructions
UCMC Onsite Instructions: Collect specimen per standard collection procedure and send to laboratory immediately.
UCMC Offsite and UC MedLab Outreach Instructions: Collect specimen per standard collection procedure and send to laboratory immediately.
Rejection Criteria
- Common specimen rejected situations include: incorrect specimen type, insufficient volume, incorrect collection container, missing or incomplete specimen identifiers, incorrect specimen transport, or specimens outside stability limits.
Reference Values
|
Test |
Age |
Sex |
Reference Range |
|
Culture |
All |
All |
No Growth |
Critical Values
|
Test |
Result |
|
Culture |
Growth |
Turnaround Time
Turnaround times are relative to the time the specimen is received in the test laboratory.
STAT Turnaround Time: not available
Routine Turnaround Time: up to 6 weeks
Testing Schedule: Monday - Sunday
Clinical Indications
- Infection of Mycobacteria species
CPT Codes
87102, 87116
LOINC Codes
30687102
Methodology
Manual and automated culture methods
Synonyms/Keyword Search
Acid Fast Bacilli Culture, AFB Culture, CSF, Mycobacterium Culture, CSF culture for Acid Fast Bacilli, Acid Fast Bacilli, Mycobacteria Culture, Tuberculosis, ACID FAST, MYCOBACTERIA, TUBERCULOSIS, NTM, AFB
Last Review Date
08/15/2025