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HelpTest Code MTBSS Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex, Molecular Detection, PCR, Varies
Infectious
Additional Codes
LABRFMTBSS
Specimen and Container/Tube
Specimen Type: BAL, bronchial washing, tracheal secretion, sputum, gastric washing, body fluid, bone marrow, ocular fluid, CSF, stool, urine, tissue
Preferred Specimen: Sterile, sealable, screw-cap container
Other Acceptable specimens: NALC/NaOH-digested respiratory specimens
Volume
Preferred Volume:
Body fluids: 1 mL
Gastric washing: 2 mL
BAL, bronchial washing, tracheal secretion, sputum: 1 mL (PCR only) or 3 mL (PCR & culture)
Stool: 5 - 10 g
Tissue: 5 - 10 mm
Urine: 1 mL
NALC/NaOH-digested specimens: 2 mL
Specimen Stability
|
Storage Temperature |
Stability |
|
Room temperature (20 - 25°C) |
not acceptable |
|
Refrigerated (2 - 10°C) |
7 days |
|
Frozen (-20°C) |
7 days |
Collection Instructions
Specimen Collection:
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 aspirates: Skin is cleansed, anesthetized, and decontaminated.
Gastric aspirates: Physician collected specimen
Bronchial washings: Aspirate through inner chamber at bronchoscopy.
Body fluid, bone marrow aspirate, ocular, or CSF: Decontamination of overlying skin and aspiration of fluid
Tissue/bone marrow biopsy: Obtained after surgical debridement is preffered. Keep moist with sterile water or sterile saline.
Urine: Clean catch (mid-stream), early morning specimen is best for AFB recovery
Stool: If collected in bedpan, must not be contaminated with urine, residual soap, or disinfectant
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, if applicable to specimen type.
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.
- Specimens in anaerobe vial or viral transport medium will be rejected.
- Swab specimens will be rejected.
- Tissue specimens in formalin will be rejected.
- Blood(y) specimens will be rejected.
Reference Values
|
Test |
Age |
Sex |
Reference Range |
|
PCR |
All |
All |
Negative |
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 8 days
Testing Schedule: Monday - Sunday
Clinical Indications
- Infection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex
CPT Codes
87556, 87015
LOINC Codes
38379-4
Methodology
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
Synonyms/Keyword Search
MYCOBACTERIUM TB DNA BY PCR
Last Review Date
08/24/2025