AFB STAIN

The AFB Stain (also known as the Ziehl-Neelsen or Kinyoun stain) is a rapid, essential laboratory test used to detect bacteria that cause tuberculosis ($\text{TB}$) and other non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections.

The AFB stain is typically the first test performed when a healthcare provider suspects $\text{TB}$ or other mycobacterial diseases.

• Sample Type: Most commonly performed on sputum (mucus coughed up from the lungs), but can also be used on samples from other sites, such as urine, cerebral spinal fluid ($\text{CSF}$), or tissue biopsies.
• Rapid Result: It provides results quickly (within hours), allowing for immediate isolation of the patient and initiation of presumptive treatment while more definitive tests (like GeneXpert or culture) are pending.