0
Sputum stain for mycobacteria is a test to check for a type of bacteria that cause tuberculosis and other kinds of infection.
Alternative NamesAcid fast bacilli stain; AFB stain; Tuberculosis smear; TB smear
How the test is performedTo obtain a sputum sample, you will be asked to cough deeply and spit the substance that comes up from the lungs (sputum) into a container. You may be asked to inhale a mist of salty steam in order to cough more deeply and produce sputum. If you still don't produce enough sputum, you might have a bronchoscopy.
The specimen is spread on a microscope slide. The cells of the specimen are stained with dyes and then examined under the microscope.
If the stain shows mycobacteria, the specimen may be placed in culture media, which encourages them to grow. (Specimens are often cultured even if no mycobacteria are seen, because sometimes the number of organisms is so low that they don't show up with staining, but they eventually grow on the culture medium.)
How to prepare for the testIt can help to drink a lot of fluids the night before the test. It makes the test more accurate if it's done first thing in the morning.
How the test will feelThere is no discomfort, unless a bronchoscopy needs to be performed.
Why the test is performedThe test is performed when the doctor suspects tuberculosis or other Mycobacterium infection.
Normal ValuesResults are normal when no mycobacterial organisms are found.
What abnormal results meanAbnormal results show that the stain is positive for:
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- Mycobacterium avium-intracellular
- Other mycobacteria or acid-fast bacteria
There are no risks, unless bronchoscopy is performed.
Special considerationsTo increase the accuracy of this test, it is sometimes done three times, often three days in a row.
There are more sophisticated tests that are sometimes used to stain sputum for mycobacteria. Check with your health care provider to see if these are available in the laboratory.
What else can I help you with?
Does presence of gram negative cocci in sputum gram stain means tuberculosis?
No, the presence of gram-negative cocci in sputum gram stain does not necessarily indicate tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is acid-fast and appears pink on a Ziehl-Neelsen stain. Gram-negative cocci are more commonly associated with other bacterial infections, such as Haemophilus influenzae or Moraxella catarrhalis.
Is mycobacteria spore forming?
No, mycobacteria are not spore-forming bacteria. They are aerobic, nonmotile, and their cell walls contain mycolic acids, which make them resistant to many antibiotics and chemicals.
Are endospores acid fast?
Yes, endospores are acid-fast because their thick walls are resistant to most stains and dyes, including the acid-fast stain used in microbiology to detect mycobacteria like Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This resistance allows endospores to retain the stain even after decolorization with acid-alcohol.
Is Mycobacteria gram negative or positive?
If you have done your gram stain properly the mycobacterium will appear to be gram positive, however an acid fast stain is necessary because of the extremely long hydrocarbon chains and the high lipid content in the cell wall. The high lipid content makes the cell wall waxy. Both of these make the cell fairly impermeable to stains.
Do mycobacteria have a cell wall?
Yes, mycobacteria have a unique cell wall structure that is composed of mycolic acids, which makes them resistant to many antibiotics and immune responses. This distinctive cell wall is a key characteristic that distinguishes mycobacteria from other types of bacteria.
What staining procedure will be used to observe bacteria in the sputum sample?
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.
Why does gram stain not work on mycobacterium tuberculosis?
Acid fast bacteria have a waxy coat on their cell wall, and their cell walls contain peptidoglycan. However, neither the crystal violet nor the counterstain (safranin) will penetrate the waxy layer. Therefore they will not be visible. An example of acid-fast bacteria are Mycobacteria. To visualize these bacteria, another staining technique called 'acid-fast staining' would be required.
Acid fast sputum?
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.
Does presence of gram negative cocci in sputum gram stain means tuberculosis?
No, the presence of gram-negative cocci in sputum gram stain does not necessarily indicate tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is acid-fast and appears pink on a Ziehl-Neelsen stain. Gram-negative cocci are more commonly associated with other bacterial infections, such as Haemophilus influenzae or Moraxella catarrhalis.
Other name for ziehl neelsen?
The Ziehl-Neelsen stain, also known as the acid fast stain, was first described by two German doctors, Franz Ziehl, a bacteriologist and Friedrich Neelsen a pathologist. It is a special bacteriological stain used to identify acid-fast organisms, mainly Mycobacteria.
How are sputum cultures performed?
.the sputum must be collected into a sterile container. Once in the laboratory, each culture type is handled differently. Bacterial culture.sputum is smeared on a microscope slide for a Gram stain. for mold or yeast, a fungal culture is done.
What do Mycoplasma sp and Mycobacteria sp.have in common?
Both stain poorly with the Gram stain.However Mycoplasma has no cell wall while Mycobacterium has a thick cell wall of mycolic acids.
What are the acid-fast stain results for Bacillus subtilis?
Bacillus subtilis is a Gram-positive bacterium and does not typically show acid-fast staining results. This means that it does not retain the stain when subjected to the acid-fast staining procedure commonly used to detect mycobacteria.
What is genus species name for mycobacteria?
The genus name for mycobacteria is "Mycobacterium." Different species of mycobacteria can have specific names like Mycobacterium tuberculosis or Mycobacterium leprae.
How do you pronounce sputum?
Sputum
What is the specific diagnostic value of acid-fast stain?
Acid-fast stain is specifically used to detect mycobacteria, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which are resistant to decolorization by acid-alcohol after staining with carbol fuchsin. This staining technique helps in the diagnosis of tuberculosis and other mycobacterial infections.
What is mycobacteria?
Mycobacteria avian are typical mycobacterial infections that may occur during the later stages of AIDS. This can first present as tenacious cough. Mycobacteria avian can be treated with antibiotics.
