AdministratorHow sputum AFB test is done?
If you are being tested for pulmonary TB, the AFB culture is done on phlegm (sputum) coughed up from deep inside your lungs. You will provide sputum in a sterile cup at least 2 days in a row, preferably early in the morning. A healthcare provider may help you get a good sputum sample.
What if sputum AFB is negative?
What Do the Results Mean? If your AFB stain does not have any bacteria that hold onto the dye, then the result is considered negative. This means that you most likely do not have TB or another mycobacterial infection in your lungs.
What is normal range of AFB?
Understanding results ofAcid Fast Bacilli (AFB) (Staining, Smear & culture sensitivity) – Sputum
| Reference Range | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| 26.7 to 37.0 seconds | Normal |
What happens if sputum test is positive?
For the smear, lab staff will look at some of your sputum under a microscope. If they see bacteria in your sputum, the smear test result is positive. For the culture, lab staff put some of your sputum into a special container to grow. If bacteria grow, your culture result is positive.
Would a chest xray show TB?
Therefore chest x-rays are usually an indicator of whether or not a person might have TB, but they cannot confirm the diagnosis. They are used to confirm a suspicion, and will always be followed by tests that aim at finding the TB bacterium. The diagnosis of TB cannot be made by a chest x-ray alone.
What are AFB infections?
Acid-fast bacillus (AFB) is a type of bacteria that causes tuberculosis and certain other infections. Tuberculosis, commonly known as TB, is a serious bacterial infection that mainly affects the lungs. It can also affect other parts of the body, including the brain, spine, and kidneys.
Why is AFB test done?
AFB tests are most often used to diagnose an active tuberculosis (TB) infection. They may also be used to help diagnose other types of AFB infections. These include: Leprosy, a once feared, but now a rare and easily treatable disease that affects the nerves, eyes, and skin.
Can TB cured completely?
With treatment, TB can almost always be cured. A course of antibiotics will usually need to be taken for 6 months. Several different antibiotics are used because some forms of TB are resistant to certain antibiotics.
How to collect AFB sputum?
sputum: 1. Make sure you are collecting sputum and not saliva. 2. Keep coughing up sputum until you get it to the fill line which is 5ml or a teaspoon full of sputum. 3. The best time to collect sputum is early in the morning after you first wake up before you brush your teeth. Do not use mouthwash prior to sputum collection.
Does sputum smear positive for AFB signify treatment failure?
Treatment is considered a failure if culture results have not converted to negative after five to six months of therapy. Studies suggest that sputum smears persistently positive for AFB despite negative culture results may in some patients be due to nonviable or atypical mycobacteria.
What does my sputum test report indicate?
Frequent urge to urinate,but little urine is passed
Is AFB a confirmatory test for tuberculosis?
The presence of acid-fast-bacilli (AFB) on a sputum smear or other specimen often indicates TB disease. Acid-fast microscopy is easy and quick, but it does not confirm a diagnosis of TB because some acid-fast-bacilli are not M. tuberculosis. Therefore, a culture is done on all initial samples to confirm the diagnosis.