Laboratory Test Directory

ACID FAST (AFB) CULTURE - BLOOD: (088-0006)

 Suspected Mycobacterial infection of bloodstream

 C MAF - both AFB and Fungus; C MBLD - AFB only

 Bactec continuous monitoring instrument until detection of growth, then culture

 Clinical Microbiology

 Cultures are held 6 weeks

Collect: Collect 1-5 ml of blood with syringe and inoculate the Myco/F lytic bottle at the bedside

Specimen Preparation: Bactec bottle specifically designed for this test. Order from Materials Management

Storage/Transport: Room temperature; do not refrigerate

Stability: 72 hours

Causes for Rejection: More than 2 cultures submitted within 7 days, refrigerated, improper collection.

Order C MAF if requesting cultures for both mycobacteria and fungus and C MBLD is only for mycobacteria.

No growth

Positive cultures are considered critical values

Test includes: Isolation and identification of Mycobacterium species and antimicrobial susceptibility testing when appropriate.

 87116

When ordering tests for which Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement will be sought, physicians should only order tests that are medically necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of the patient.  Components of the organ or disease panels may be ordered individually.  The diagnostic information must substantiate all tests ordered and must be in the form of an ICD-9 code or its verbal equivalent.

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