Afb Fluroscence Microscopy Pus

AFB testing may be used to detect several different types of acid-fast bacilli, but it is most commonly used to identify an active tuberculosis (TB) infection caused by the most medically important AFB, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. An AFB smear is used as a rapid test to detect mycobacteria that may be causing an infection such as tuberculosis. The sample is spread thinly onto a glass slide, treated with a special stain, and examined under a microscope for "acid-fast" bacteria. This is a relatively quick way to determine if an infection may be due to one of the mycobacteria, such as M. tuberculosis. AFB smears can provide presumptive results within a few hours and are valuable in helping to make decisions about treatment while culture results are pending. However, this rapid test is less sensitive than culture to diagnosis a mycobacterial infection.