Definition

Sputum stain for mycobacteria is a test to check for a type of bacteria that cause tuberculosis and other infections.

Alternative Names

Acid fast bacilli stain; AFB stain; Tuberculosis smear; TB smear

How the Test is Performed

This test requires a sample of sputum.

• You will be asked to cough deeply and spit any substance that comes up from your lungs (sputum) into a special container.
• You may be asked to breathe in a mist of salty steam. This makes you cough more deeply and produce sputum.
• If you still do not produce enough sputum, you might have a procedure called a bronchoscopy to collect a sputum sample.
• To increase the accuracy, this test is sometimes done 3 times, often 3 days in a row.

The test sample is examined under a microscope. This sputum stain test can give your health care provider a quick answer. Another test, called a culture, is done to confirm the results. A culture test may take several (6 to 10) weeks to get results.

How to Prepare for the Test

Drinking fluids the night before the test helps your lungs produce phlegm. It makes the test more accurate if it is done first thing in the morning.

If you are having a bronchoscopy, follow your provider's instructions on how to prepare for the procedure.

How the Test will Feel

There is no discomfort, unless a bronchoscopy needs to be performed.

Why the Test is Performed

The test is performed when your provider suspects tuberculosis or other mycobacterium infection.

Normal Results

Results are normal when no mycobacterial organisms are found.

What Abnormal Results Mean

Abnormal results show that the stain is positive for:

• Mycobacterium tuberculosis
• Mycobacterium avium-intracellular
• Other mycobacteria or acid-fast bacteria

Risks

There are no risks with this test, unless a bronchoscopy is performed.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Tuberculosis (TB). www.cdc.gov/tb/index.html. Updated October 30, 2024. Accessed December 22, 2024.

Rodino KG, Woods GL, Wengenack NL. Mycobacteria. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 59.

Shete PB, Cattamanchi A, Yoon C. Tuberculosis: clinical manifestations and diagnosis. In: Broaddus VC, Ernst JD, King TE, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 53.