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Acid Fast stain |
| Test | Acid Fast stain |
| Indication | The staining is used to detect the presence of mycobacteria, monitor therapy against mycobacterium, efective diagnosis of mycobacterial infection. |
| Physiology | Acid fast bacteria are surrounded by a waxy envelope that is resistant to destaining by acid alcohol. Heat, prolonged exposure peneterates the cell wall. The stained bacteria is resistant to decolorization with acid alcohol. |
| Normal Range | No acid fast bacteria. Positive smears are quantitated and reported as 1+ (3-9 bacteria in entire smear), 2+ (>10 in entire smear), or 3+ (1 or more bacilli per field) acid fast bacteria seen. |
| Sample | Fluid, pus, or abscess material |
| Test Method | Acid fast stain - Ziehl-Neelsen or fluorochrome stain |
| Related Tests | Mycobacteria by DNA probe, Skin Test, Tuberculosis. |
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