AFB Culture - Aspirate (MGIT) Test Cost & Procedure

Acid-fasting is a characteristic of some bacterial cells, and AFB stands for Acid-fasting Bacillus. When someone is believed to have tuberculosis, an AFB Smear test is performed. Mycobacterium tuberculosis AFB is the culprit of tuberculosis infection. The test is the quickest and most accurate one now available to identify tuberculosis, and it is performed by obtaining a sample from the patient. The negative test results indicate the absence of infection in the patient. Mycobacteria are present in the model if the AFB test is positive. The sample that tested negative may have an infection. Thus, it is still let to develop in the culture.

Smear test and AFB preparation:

• The quickest test to identify an infection that could lead to tuberculosis is the AFB smear.
• The test determines whether mycobacteria are present positively or negatively.
• The patient's sample is spread out on a thin glass slide.
• A specific dye is applied to the sample so that, if any mycobacteria are present, they will stain and may be seen clearly on the slide under a microscope.
• Because of the high mycolic acid concentration in their cell walls, mycobacteria are simple to find.
• Due to the dye's poor absorption and increased retention quality, this mycolic acid gets discoloured.

AFB and Smear Test Uses:

It is advisable to get tested for possible TB if someone has been coughing for several weeks. The following disorders can be found early on thanks to the test: Phlegmy-producing chronic cough, lingering fever, appetite loss, Joint and abdominal pain, bone marrow TB, TB meningitis, and spinal TB.

Process:

• Water, tea, coffee, and other liquids are acceptable.
• Your body produces more sputum when fluids are consumed, and the night before the test is no different.
• The results will be more accurate the more sputum there is.