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Test Code CFAFB Cystic Fibrosis Respiratory Acid Fast Bacilli Culture

Infectious

Specimen and Container/Tube

Specimen Type: Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL), sputum, tracheal aspirate

Preferred Specimen: Sterile, sealable, screw-cap container

Volume

Minimum Volume:

BAL: 5 mL

Sputum: 3 mL

Tracheal aspirate: 1 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: 

 

BAL: Aspirate through inner chamber at bronchoscopy.

 

Sputum: Rinse mouth or gargle with water to remove excess oral flora. Patient must cough deeply. At least one first morning specimen is recommended.

 

Tracheal aspirate: Skin is cleansed, anesthetized, and decontaminated.


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.  If transport is delayed, refrigerate specimens prior to transport.

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. 
  • Pooled sputum specimens will be rejected.
  • Greater than 3 sputum specimens submitted in 24 hours will be rejected.
  • Swab specimens will be rejected.
  • Protected sterile brush 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

87116, 87206

LOINC Codes

30687116, 30287206

Methodology

Manual and automated culture methods

Synonyms/Keyword Search

Acid Fast Bacilli, Mycobacteria Culture, Tuberculosis, CYSTIC FIBROSIS AFB, CFAFB, ACID FAST, MYCOBACTERIA, CULTURE, TUBERCULOSIS, NTM

Last Review Date

08/15/2025