AFB - Non Healing Ulcer
AFB – Acid- Fast- Bacillus is a kind of bacteria that is the causative agent for TUBERCULOSIS (TB) and other infections. TB causes serious health complications to the lungs, brain, bones such as the spine, and kidneys. As per the physician’s recommendations or pathologist. Sample specimen collected from various places such as blood, urine, phlegm for this test for diagnosing tuberculosis and similar infections such as leprosy. This test is used to diagnose Non-healing ulcer which is caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans (another group of mycobacterium).
AFB – NON HEALING ULCERS:
Why AFB-Non Healing Ulcer test?
CLINICAL INFORMATION :
Acid-fast bacilli(AFB) - Non-Healing Ulcers of TB are secondary tuberculosis formed due to primary infections through contaminated sputum or hematogenous spread. These lesions can occur like TB affecting any other organ system. These lesions may present as ulcers, nodules, fissures, tuberculoma,s or granulomas. These ulcers are usually formed by the breakdown of tubercles and usually present with undetermined edges. These non-healing TB ulcers resemble malignancy as being nodular and moreover, these ulcerations are not generally typical of normal TB manifestations. Hence these tubercular non-healing ulcers can be differentiated by clinical findings by appearance as these TB ulcers are more irregular in shape when compared with carcinomas. For confirming the AFB – Acid Fast Bacillus sample specimen is collected from non-healing ulcer to detect the causative agent of non-healing ulcer to rule out Mycobacterium as the infective agent. Other tests include Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) smear examination, inoculation and culture on Lowenstein Jensen (LJ) culture medium, radiometric BACTEC-460 system, PCR, DNA enzyme Immuno Assay (DEIA) test, etc.
General instructions:
Sample Requirement: Specimen - As directed by the pathologist.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.
