Sputum stain for mycobacteria

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Sputum test

Acid fast bacilli stain; AFB stain; Tuberculosis smear; TB smear

Results are normal when no mycobacterial organisms are found.

Abnormal results show that the stain is positive for:

• Mycobacterium tuberculosis
• Mycobacterium avium-intracellular
• Other mycobacteria or acid-fast bacteria

Review Date: 10/15/2009
Reviewed By: Daniel Levy, MD, Infectious Disease, Maryland Family Care, Lutherville, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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