Testing Laboratory
Auckland Te Toka Tumai | Auckland HospitalDepartment
Microbiology
Delphic Registration Code (Alpha Code)
TB1
Test Code (Numeric Code)
2297
Laboratory Handling
Transport
Ambient
Registration
Unique registration required with no other tests.
Sample Stability
24 hours
Synonyms
Acid Fast Bacilli
AFB
Atypical Mycobacteria
TB Culture
Gastric Washings tuberculosis
Isolate mycobacterium
Isolates TB
MAIC
Mycobacterium avium
Mycobacterium bovis
Mycobacterium
Mycobacterium culture
Mycobacterium lepra
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Mycobacterium susceptibility testing
Nontuberculosis mycobacterium
NTM
TB
Tuberculosis
Tuberculous specimen
Turnaround Time
6 weeks
Specimens must reach the laboratory before 10:00 hours (Monday to Friday) for the smear result to be available on the same day. Smear results are available within 24 hours of specimen arrival at the TB laboratory (Monday-Friday). Positive cultures of acid-fast bacilli are reported immediately after growth occurs. Culture and identification results are available for new smear positive cases within 3 weeks. Negative culture results are reported after completion of 6 weeks incubation time. Susceptibility testing will be available within 4 weeks for smear positive cases and referred isolates in most cases.
Specimen Type
- Bone Marrow
- Whole Blood
Specimen Requirements
Tube/Container Type:
Preferred
- Mycobacterial Blood Culture Bottle
Preferred Sample Volume (ml)
5
Minimum Sample Volume (ml)
1
Paediatric Specimen Requirements
Tube/Container Type:
Preferred
- Mycobacterial Blood Culture Bottle
Preferred Sample Volume (ml)
5
Minimum Sample Volume (ml)
1
Additional Specimen Information
Mycobacterial culture of blood and bone marrow requires Myco/F-Lytic blood culture bottles. These must be requested from the Microbiology department (Ext 22706)
Inoculate a maximum of 5ml directly into the bottle.
Last updated: 13/04/2026