What Does Acid Fast Bacilli Mean. Some bacteria may also be partially acid-fast such as Nocardia. The most common acid fast bacilli. Typically the cell wall of bacteria is made up of proteins carbohydrates and lipids. A sputum stain for Mycobacteria is a laboratory test performed on a sample of your sputum or phlegm.
Its also known as an acid-fast bacillus AFB stain or a tuberculosis TB smear. Mycobacteria are called acid-fast bacilli because they are a group of rod-shaped bacteria bacilli that can be seen under the microscope following a staining procedure where the bacteria retain the color of the stain after an acid wash acid-fast. Tuberculosis TB Historically major impact disease 100 yrs ago TB was biggest human killer many famous deaths believed to be genetic linked to genius. Tuberculosis commonly known as TB is a serious bacterial infection that mainly affects the lungs. The most common acid fast bacilli. Bacteria that have acid fastness are known as acid fast bacteria.
AFB smear refers to the microscopic examination of a fluorochrome stain of a clinical specimen.
The acid-fastness of Mycobacteria is due to the high mycolic acid content of their cell walls which is responsible for the staining pattern of poor absorption followed by high retention. A doctor typically orders the test to determine if a person has tuberculosis TB or another. It can also be used to stain a few other bacteria such as Nocardia. The acid fast bacteria are a type of bacteria that resist decolorizing by acid after staining. It refers to a type of stain used to a identify bacteria and means the bacteria hold on to the stain and appear red under the microscope. These Acid-fast organisms like Mycobacterium contain large amounts of lipid substances within their cell walls called mycolic acids.