AFB CULTURE

An acid-fast bacillus (AFB) culture is a laboratory test used to identify the presence of mycobacteria, the bacteria that cause diseases like tuberculosis (TB) and leprosy.Unlike many other bacteria, mycobacteria have a waxy cell wall that makes them resistant to standard staining techniques. The AFB culture is considered the "gold standard" for diagnosing TB because it can detect small numbers of living bacteria, providing a more definitive result than a smear test, which only shows if bacteria are present. This test involves taking a sample of bodily fluid or tissue (like sputum from the lungs) and placing it on a special growth medium to see if the bacteria multiply. While a smear test can give quick results, the culture test can take several weeks for the bacteria to grow, but its higher sensitivity is crucial for confirming a diagnosis and determining the appropriate course of antibiotic treatment.