ACID FAST BACILLUS (AFB) – CEREBROSPINAL FLUID (CSF):
Why AFB CSF fluid test?
CLINICAL INFORMATION :
Acid-fast bacillus (AFB) in CSF fluid is used as a diagnostic tool to differentiate tubercular meningitis (TBM) from aseptic meningitis. Test for CSF analysis is performed to help diagnose diseases or abnormal conditions that affect the brain (CNS) and spinal cord.
The demonstration of Acid-fast bacillus (AFB) with auramine-rhodamine stain, Ziehl-Neelsen stain, or Kinyoun stain in CSF fluid is performed for screening of disseminated tuberculosis.
Confirmation is performed by meningeal biopsy, with the demonstration of caseating granulomas (causes severe morbidity and mortality which presents with repeated attacks of seizures, fever, intermittent loss of consciousness and signs of increased intracranial pressure for several months and the granulomatous disease is confirmed by neutrophil function test by dihydroergotamine test) and AFB on the smear.
Lumbar puncture is made to extract CSF and the findings are cobweb pattern appearance of CSF, with lymphocytes, high protein levels, and low glucose content.
Symptoms of tuberculosis meningitis are high temperature, severe headache, vomiting, stiffness in the neck (meningismus), muscle weakness, slurred speech, paralysis of one side of the body, especially neurological which includes lethargy, confusion, irritability, drowsiness, stupor, and agitation to coma.
Complications of tuberculosis meningitis are tuberculoma (edema of the brain with increased intracranial pressure), hydrocephalus due to obstruction of CSF outflow causing increased intracranial pressure, and hyponatremia due to syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion in patients with tubercular meningitis, hence it is a medical emergency, mandating rapid diagnosis and treatment.
General instructions:
Sample Requirement: Specimen is pleural fluid. Test Preparation: None.
NOTE - Sample for specimen collections may vary based on the patient’s condition/cases according to the patient’s presentingcomplaints / signs or symptoms:
SPECIMENREQUIREMENT (Special or Rare Cases) - As instructed and guided by Physician / Clinician / Pathologist / as per Laboratory’s requirements, according to procedures and protocols.
This Multi-Specialty Clinical Referral Laboratory “RTDIAGNOSTICS” provides precise and accurate tests with an extensive range of testing services to the medical centers to help in the diagnosis and identification of pathology in the test specimens for infectious diseases and also to evaluate the function of organ systems of the patient. It prevents further complications and helps to stabilize and restore health to near normalcy at the earliest without delay.
