Acid Fast Bacilli Referred Isolate Identification

Mycobacteria, Tuberculosis, TB, NTM, AMRC

G-MYCO

Identification of mycobacterial isolates (MTB complex and non-tuberculous mycobacteria) referred to DSHS Laboratory

N/A

N/A

N/A

Pure isolate from human sources

Mycobacterium species pure isolate in liquid or on solid culture medium

• Liquid culture - 2.0 mL

• Solid culture - Single mature colony

Ambient

N/A

• At least two patient identifiers required on specimen (e.g., patient full name, date of birth, medical record number). 
• Three patient identifiers are preferred. 
• Patient identifiers on specimen label must exactly match identifiers on submission form. (e.g., abbreviated name on label and full name on form is not acceptable.)
• Additional DSHS Laboratory specimen labeling guidelines available online here. 

• Ship according to Dangerous Goods Regulations, IATA, and/or CFR 49

• Category B shipping applies for unidentified isolates

• Category A shipping applies for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex

• High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)

• Subculture for purity and morphological examination

2 days for identification

• HPLC may only detect the predominant organism in a mixed culture.

• Liquid cultures must be instrument positive in order to analyze by HPLC.

• Cultures overgrown by contaminating organisms

• Cultures broken in transit

•  Missing identifiers on specimen or submission form

• Mismatch between specimen and/or submission form identifiers
   

Most isolates can be identified as either M. tuberculosis complex or Mycobacterium species, not M. tuberculosis within 2 to 3 days.