It is actually a sputum AFB test (acid-fast bacilli).
Acid-fast sputum refers to a sample of sputum that is stained using a special acid-fast stain to detect acid-fast bacteria, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This staining technique helps in diagnosing diseases like tuberculosis by identifying the presence of these specific bacteria in the sputum sample.
Acid fast bacilli test. Most frequently referenced in testing for tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis is characterized by acid-fast bacilli infection of the lungs. The bacilli are resistant to decolorization by acid-alcohol during staining, hence the term "acid-fast." Symtoms of TB include coughing, chest pain, weight loss, and fatigue.
Some examples of acid-fast bacilli include Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium leprae, and Nocardia species.
Mycobacterial, tuberculosis
Because special staining techniques involving acids are required to view these bacteria under the microscope, they are referred to as acid-fast bacilli (AFB).
A Gram stain is commonly used to observe bacteria in a sputum sample. This staining procedure helps visualize the bacterial cell wall structure and arrangement, aiding in the identification of different bacterial species.
Acid-fast bacilli are a group of bacteria that resist decolorization by acids during laboratory staining procedures. These bacilli include species such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes tuberculosis. Acid-fast staining helps in their identification due to their unique cell wall composition.
"No acid fast bacilli seen" means that no bacteria with a cell wall that is resistant to acid staining, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, were observed in the specimen tested. This result is important in ruling out certain bacterial infections, particularly tuberculosis.
Acid fast bacilli test. Most frequently referenced in testing for tuberculosis.
Acid-fast bacilli in pus samples are typically graded based on the number of bacilli seen under a microscope using the Ziehl-Neelsen or Auramine-rhodamine stain. The grading scale commonly used ranges from 1+ to 4+, with 1+ indicating rare bacilli and 4+ indicating numerous bacilli per high-power field. This grading helps to semi-quantitatively assess the bacterial load and guide treatment decisions for conditions like tuberculosis.