Additional Specimen Instructions

AFB culture includes a direct smear stain (exception: blood, CSF, urine). Direct smears are batched once daily Monday-Friday. If a smear result is needed to rule out TB over a weekend or holiday, call the lab.

Collect specimens in a sterile leak-proof container.

Swabs are suboptimal specimens for mycobacterial culture and are strongly discouraged. If a swab cannot be avoided only E-swabs are acceptable.

Lower Respiratory (sputum): sterile container, minimum volume 2mL

Collection of three sputum specimens at 8-24 hour intervals and including at least one first morning specimen is recommended for patients with clinical & chest x-ray findings compatible with tuberculosis.

Body Fluid: sterile container or Eswab, minimum volume 1mL

Tissue: sterile container or Eswab, minumim 5-10mm (pea-sized tissue)

Blood: Myco F/lytic bottle (call lab to obtain).

CSF: sterile container- minimum volume 5mL, if a volume of less than 5 mL is processed for culture a disclaimer is added to the report “Specimen received with sub-optimal CSF volume <5mL. The sensitivity of the AFB culture is therefore compromised.”

Urine: sterile container, minimum 30-50mL

Bone marrow: testing is referred to Mayo Medical Laboratories