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Test Code AFBB AFB/Fungal Blood Culture

Important Note

AFB culture only. No stain.

Infectious

Specimen and Container/Tube

Specimen Type: Whole blood

Preferred Specimen: BACTEC Myco/F Lytic bottle

Volume

Preferred Volume: 5 mL

Specimen Stability

Storage Temperature

Stability

Room temperature

(20 - 25°C)

24 hours

Refrigerated

(2 - 10°C)

 not acceptable

Frozen

(-20°C)

not acceptable

Collection Instructions

Specimen Collection: 

  1. Skin decontamination with Chloraprep. Pinch wings of the applicator to break the ampule inside. Wet sponge by repeatedly pressing and releasing sponge against venipuncture site.
  2. Scrub venipuncture site continuously for 30 seconds using a back and forth motion.
  3. Allow the site to air dry for 30 seconds. DO NOT blot or dry.
  4. To prepare the bottle, remove the plastic cap from the top of the bottles and cleanse with 70% alcohol. Remove any surplus disinfectant with sterile gauze before injection of blood into the bottle.

Specimen Transport: Immediate, no refrigeration.

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 collectio container, missing or incomplete specimen identifiers, incorrect specimen transport, or specimens outside stability limits. 
  • Frozen or refrigerated specimens will be rejected.

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

LOINC Codes

30687102

Methodology

Automated culture method

Synonyms/Keyword Search

Mycobacteria Culture, Blood culture for Acid Fast Bacilli, Acid Fast Bacilli, Tuberculosis, MYCOBACTERIA, BLOOD CULTURE, TB, NTM, AFB BLOOD CULTURE

Last Review Date

08/15/2025