An acid-fast bacteria (AFB) culture is done to find out if you have tuberculosis (TB) or another mycobacterial infection. Besides TB, the other main mycobacterial infections are leprosy and a TB-like disease that affects people with HIV/AIDS. The sputum culture test is performed to identify the growth of any bacteria or virus in the lungs and/or the air passages. The sputum culture test is the culture and observation of mucus or phlegm, that is obtained from the lungs or the throat. For a healthy person, there is no detection of bacteria or virus in the sputum, but for people suffering from respiratory diseases, the sputum culture test is essential in determining the nature of the infection and prescribing the correct medication. Additionally, the sputum culture test is helpful for identifying the early stages of tuberculosis.
Sputum for AFB Culture Test is done at Maurya Labs in Purnia, Bihar with the best and most advanced technology at an affordable cost.
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The smear of AFB is visualized under a microscope after staining. The number of bacilli is counted and reported as +4, +3, +2, and +1. The higher the number of bacilli reported, greater is the infection.
Number of AFB observed Interpretation
(At 1000X magnification)
4+ (>9/field) Strongly Positive
3+ (1-9/field) Strongly Positive
2+ (1-9/10 fields) Moderately Positive
1+ (1-9/100 fields) Moderately Positive
+/- (1-2/ 300 fields) Weakly Positive
No AFB observed Negative
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At the diagnostic lab, your sputum may change in colour over a few days. Although you will not be able to observe this, it is helpful to know what each colour means.
Clear - Normal
White - Normal but too much in quantity can be worrisome.
Yellow/green - Bacterial infection
Brown - Too much smoking
Pink - Pulmonary Edema
Red - Lung cancer
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What does the AFB Test Measure ?
The most common reason why your doctor may prescribe a sputum culture test for you is that there is suspects that your lungs have been infected with a harmful bacterial or fungal infection. It can also help determine the overall health of your bronchi (structures inside your lungs) as well as the functioning capacity of your lungs.
Why should I do the Sputum for AFB Culture Test ?
These are reasons you might need this test:
You have symptoms of a lung infection, such as chronic cough, coughing up blood, weight loss, fever, chills, and tiredness.
You have a positive TB skin or blood test and you are at high risk for exposure to TB or its progression to active disease. This includes those with HIV/AIDS or another condition that weakens your immune system. People who have been in hospitals, nursing homes, or prisons are also at high risk.
You have symptoms of TB outside the lungs, a condition called extrapulmonary TB. These symptoms vary based on the site of infection. Most people think of TB as only a lung disease. But it can show up in other parts of the body. If it infects the spinal cord, for example, it can cause back pain and paralysis. In the kidneys, it often causes blood in the urine
You have a condition like HIV/AIDS that puts you at increased risk of getting TB. If you have also been in close contact with someone who has TB, healthcare providers will want to test you for the disease.
Your doctor may also give you this test from time to time if you are being treated for TB. This is to see if the treatment is working and to find out whether you are still infectious.
How is the AFB Test Done ?
The Sputum Test for AFB is done using sputum or phlegm of the patient. This phlegm is than added with things that help the bacteria to grow. This is put in an incubator at 37 degree centigrade mimicking the body temperature and observed for any kind of bacterial growth for several weeks. If there is bacterial growth then you have mycobacterial infection.
What is the Best Time Collect the Sputum Sample?
The best time to collect a sputum sample for culture is early in the morning, right after you wake up. Since your sputum accumulates different types of secretions from the lungs throughout the night, the sputum produced early in the morning has the highest chances of showing harmful bacteria present in your lungs, if any.
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Mob : +91-92 34 34 4301
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Bihar - 854105
Mob : +91-92 34 34 4301
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Opposite Druvit Hospital,
Madhepura, Bihar - 852113
Mob : +91-92 34 34 4301
1st Floor, Al-Shams Complex, Shop No. 101,
Opposite Sadar Hospital, Azad Nagar,
Araria, Bihar - 854311
Mob : +91-92 34 34 4301
Power House Road, Near HP World,
Rajhata, Binodpur, Katihar,
Bihar - 854105
Mob : +91-92 34 34 4301
