Acid-Fast Bacilli-Mycobacterium

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

• Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex isolate submission is required
• Nontuberculous Mycobacterium (NTM) isolate submission (only extra-pulmonary):  Contact CDEP prior to submission; requested through consultation only.

• None

• Isolate submission Mycobacterium tuberculosis (growth on culture media):

-Lowenstein-Jensen media (screw cap tube) or other appropriate media

-Only pure cultures will be accepted

• Specimen submission:

-Acceptable specimen types include: Abscess, body fluids, CSF, lower respiratory specimens (BAL, brush, wash, tracheal aspirates), sputum, tissue/lymph nodes, urine 

-Collect specimen (2 mL minimum) in a sterile, leak-proof container (50 mL conical tube)

Specimen Labeling

• Specimen should be labeled with at least two unique patient identifiers along with specimen source and match accompanying test order.

• None

• Acceptable specimen types should be stored at 2-8°C except for CSF and tissue/lymph nodes (store at 15-25°C). 

• Ship acceptable specimens at 2-8°C except for body fluids, CSF and tissue/lymph nodes (ship at 15-25°C). 
• Ship isolates/pure culture growth at 15-25°C.
• All infectious substance shipments must conform to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR 49 C.F.R. Parts 171-180). 

• Acceptable specimen types include: Abscess, body fluids, CSF, lower respiratory specimens (BAL, brush, wash, tracheal aspirates), sputum, tissue/lymph nodes, urine. 
• Isolates in pure culture (solid or liquid media). 
• Unsatisfactory specimens include, but may not be limited to:

-  Specimens that have leaked or were broken in transit

-  Media was liquified

-  Specimen contained GROSS contamination

-  Missing required information

-  Frozen specimens

• Nashville