Sputum stain for mycobacteria

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Sputum test

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

There are no risks, unless bronchoscopy is performed.

To increase the accuracy of this test, it is sometimes done three times, often three days in a row.

There are more sophisticated tests that are sometimes used to stain sputum for mycobacteria. Check with your health care provider to see if these are available in the laboratory.

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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