Mycobacteria Blood Culture

Microbiology

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Usage

Diagnosis of Tuberculosis (TB) and other Mycobacterial infections

Specimen

Blood

Specimen container

BD BACTEC Myco/F Lytic Blood Culture Bottle

Special Instructions

Requests must be discussed with a Consultant Microbiologist before sending as a special type of blood culture bottle needs to be used (supplied by Microbiology)

• Please use risk of infection stickers
• Please supply full clinical details
• Please state if this is a follow up sample from a previous positive. If yes, please give details of previous positive
• Please state if the patient is on Anti-TB therapy

DO NOT send sample via POD (container made of glass)

Availability

Sent to Reference Laboratory

Reference Laboratory

Wales Centre for Mycobacteria (Cardiff) – Public Health Wales (PHW)

Turnaround Time

Up to 6 weeks (for a negative result)

Urgent Specimen Intructions

Please phone laboratory

Useful Links

For Patients:

AFB Testing – Lab Tests Online UK

Tuberculosis – Lab Tests Online UK

Non-tuberculous (Atypical) Mycobacterium – Lab Tests Online UK

For Healthcare Professionals:

British Thoracic Society Guidelines

Wales Centre for Mycobacteria (WCM) – Public Health Wales

(Key words: AFB)

Specimen Labelling Procedure