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Test Code MTBPCR Mycobacterium tuberculosis PCR Assay

Infectious

Specimen and Container/Tube

Specimen Type: Sputum

Preferred Specimen: Sterile, sealable, screw-cap container

Volume

Minimum Volume: 3 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:

  1. Have the patient rinse his or her mouth twice with water.
  2. Open the lid on the sputum collection container.
  3. Have the patient inhale deeply, cough vigorously, and expectorate the material into the container. Avoid spills or soiling the outside of the container.
  4. Secure the lid on the collection device and then send the container to the processing area.

 

Specimen Transport: Immediate. If transport is delayed, refrigerate specimens prior to transport.

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.
  • Samples with obvious food particles or other solid particulate will be rejected.

Reference Values

 

Test

Age

Sex

Reference Range
MTB-RIF PCR

All

All

 Not Detected

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: 24 hours

Testing Schedule: Monday - Sunday

Clinical Indications

  • Aid in the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex DNA or Rifampin-resistance associated mutations of the rpoB gene in samples from patients at risk forr ifampin resistance

Methodology

Semi-quantitative, nested real-time PCR

CPT Codes

87536

LOINC Codes

33634-7, 85362-2

Synonyms/Keyword Search

Acid Fast Bacilli, Tuberculosis, ACID FAST, AFB, MYCOBACTERIA, TUBERCULOSIS, NOCARDIA, TB

Last Review Date

09/08/2026