Home > Term: acid-fast bacilli (AFB)
acid-fast bacilli (AFB)
Bacteria that retain certain dyes after being washed in an acid solution. Most acid-fast organisms are mycobacteria. When AFB are seen on a stained smear of sputum or other clinical specimen, a diagnosis of TB should be suspected; however, the diagnosis of TB is not confirmed until a culture is grown and identified as M. tuberculosis.
- Part of Speech: noun
- Industry/Domain: Health care
- Category: Tuberculosis
- Company: U.S. CDC
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