Why is this procedure done?
Acid-fast bacilli are a kind of germ. They are also known as AFB. Their name tells you the kind of stain used to see the bacilli under the microscope. The doctor may order an AFB test to: ‚
- See if you have an infection.
- Find out how well your treatment is working.
- Give the best drug to treat your infection.
- Go along with other tests.
What will the results be?
- The doctor will look at the results of your test and what is normal. The doctor will know if you have an illness that needs treatment.
- If the results are normal or negative, it means you likely do not have an infection with AFB. Another problem may be causing your signs. It may mean that there were not enough germs seen under the microscope and you will be tested again.
- If the results are not normal or positive, you may have an infection with an AFB. You may still need to have another test to confirm that you are ill from AFB.
- The doctor will talk with you about treatment.
What happens before the procedure?
- There are no special things to do before the test.
- Talk to your doctor about:
- All the drugs you are taking. Some drugs may affect your test results.
- If you are under severe stress or have a long-term illness
What happens during the procedure?
This test can be done in a few ways. ‚
- Most often, your doctor will have you cough up the thick sticky fluid from your lungs into a small cup. This sticky fluid is sputum. You may have to do this for 3 to 5 mornings in a row.
- If you are not able to cough up sputum, your doctor may need to collect your sample using a bronchoscopy. This lets the doctor look deep into your lungs and collect samples of fluid.
- Other body fluids or tissues may also be tested for AFB.
Once the doctor has your sample, 2 kinds of tests may be done. ‚
- The sample is most often spread on a slide and treated with a stain. This is an AFB Smear. It can give results in a few hours.
- The doctor may also send a sample for a culture. Then the sample will go into a bottle or tube partly filled with other fluids. These are sent to the lab and kept in a special area. Over a day or two, if there are any germs, they will grow and increase. Then, the lab tech will collect some of them and look at them with a microscope. Often, the lab tech adds antibiotics to see which ones fight the germs best.
What happens after the procedure?
- This is based on the kind of sample used for AFB testing.
- Ask your doctor when you will get the results.
What care is needed at home?
You may do your everyday activities when you get back home. ‚
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. This test will help your doctor understand if you have an infection. Together you can make a plan for more care. ‚
What problems could happen?
Feeling dizzy ‚
Where can I learn more?
American Association for Clinical Chemistry ‚
http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/afb-culture/tab/glance ‚
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/system/medical/test_t4.html ‚
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services ‚
http://health.mo.gov/lab/smearculture.php ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚