Afb Isolation Rapid Culture Synovial Fluid

A microbiological culture, or microbial culture, is a method of multiplying microbial organisms by letting them reproduce in predetermined culture media under controlled laboratory conditions. Microbial cultures are used to determine the type of organism, its abundance in the sample being tested, or both. Recommendations for isolating potentially infectious tuberculosis (TB) patients differ depending on sputum smear results; level of clinical suspicion; drug sensitivity of the organism; type of setting; and the age, immune status and exposure status of household members. Tuberculosis is a chronic, granulomatous disease caused by M. tuberculosis. Identification, and, if appropriate, antibiotic sensitivity, is required to initiate necessary therapy. A few different tests may be used to help identify AFB as the cause of an infection: An AFB smear is used as a rapid test to detect mycobacteria that may be causing an infection such as tuberculosis. However, this rapid test is less sensitive than culture to diagnosis a mycobacterial infection. Acid- Fast Bacilli (AFB) smear and culture are two separate tests always performed together at the MSPHL, Tuberculosis (TB) Unit. AFB smear refers to the microscopic examination of a fluorochrome stain of a clinical specimen.