What is acid-fast bacilli test?

Brief Description. Acid- Fast Bacilli (AFB) smear and culture are two separate tests always performed together at the MSPHL, Tuberculosis (TB) Unit. AFB smear refers to the microscopic examination of a fluorochrome stain of a clinical specimen.

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What is acid-fast bacilli test?

What does AFB positive mean?

Acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear-positive sputum is usually an initial clue in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB); however, the test is not disease-specific.

Which disease is an acid-fast bacilli smear used for diagnosis?

Your doctor may use an acid-fast bacteria (AFB) stain test to see if you have a lung disease like tuberculosis (TB). In addition to showing tuberculosis, an AFB stain can also show if you have another kind of mycobacterial infection like leprosy or a TB-like disease that can affect people with HIV/AIDS.

Why Mycobacterium is called acid-fast bacilli?

The acid-fastness of Mycobacteria is due to the high mycolic acid content of their cell walls, which is responsible for the staining pattern of poor absorption followed by high retention. Some bacteria may also be partially acid-fast, such as Nocardia.

How do you collect sputum for AFB?

To collect a sputum sample, you should do the following:

Brush your teeth and rinse your mouth without using antiseptic mouthwash.
Take a couple of long, deep breaths.
Breathe deeply again and cough hard until sputum comes up.
Spit out the sputum into the sample cup.

What is the treatment for AFB?

The standard treatment for TB comprises an intensive phase with isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol for 2 months, followed by a continuation phase that comprises the concomitant use of isoniazid and rifampicin for another 4 months. This standard treatment is highly effective for drug-susceptible TB.