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Acid-fast stain - Results

Normal Values:

A normal result means no acid-fast bacteria were found on the stained sample.

Note: Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

What abnormal results mean:

Abnormal results may indicate an infection with an acid-fast bacteria. Acid-fast bacteria include those that cause tuberculosis, nontuberculous infections, and nocardia infections.

Reviewed last on: 12/1/2009
Reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., and Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital.

References

Newton SM, Brent AJ, Anderson S, Whittaker E, Kampmann B. Paediatrictuberculosis. Lancet Infect Dis. 2008 Aug;8(8):498-510.

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