Acid-Fast Bacilli (AFB)
Test Description
The acid-fast method is a special staining technique that is particularly useful when identifying mycobacteria in sputum specimens, which often contain a variety of organisms. Examples of mycobacteria are those causing leprosy, tuberculosis, and respiratory infection in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Mycobacteria retain stain coloring even after treatment with a decolorizing acidalcohol solution. Once bacilli are determined to be acid-fast, a culture is done to differentiate the type of mycobacteria, along with sensitivity testing to determine appropriate pharmacologic treatment.
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