The Full Form of AFB is Acid-Fast Bacilli. It is one of a type of bacteria that causes Tuberculosis disease. Tuberculosis or TB is a very serious disease and every year millions of people get affected by this disease. TB is an infection that affects the lungs and also other parts of the body. It spread through coughing or cold or sneezing from one person to another. If a person has active TB, then only he/she can spread it to others otherwise not.
How is the AFB test performed?
The process is like the health care providers take a sample or a part of your body thing by which they can check your tissue such as phlegm or sputum and the coughing process. Then they put it into a container by which they can check the bacteria to grow for a time duration of a few weeks. After that, they sit and check the bacteria how grows or grows or not.
AFB tests are prescribed to people who are active TB patients. The tests are done to find how many AFB bacteria are there in the sputum. AFB tests are basically of two types:
- AFB Smear– It is a short process and in this test a sample smeared is taken on the slide of a glass and then it will be tested. The report comes in 1 or 2 days.
- AFB Culture- It is a long process and in this test, a sample will be forwarded to the lab and there it will be tested. It is not done for every patient. The report takes around 6 weeks.
- The test of AFB is mostly used at the time of diagnoses from the other type of AFB infection. A one should consult and go for the AFB test if they are facing such kind of issue into their body –
- Cough ( If it remains for more then 3 weeks)
- Chest pain
- Blood while coughing
- Night sweats
- Unexpected weight gain and lose
Other symptoms in the body for that you should go for AFB test
Back pain
Blood while urine
Headache
Joint ache
Body weakness
Acid-Fast Bacilli (AFB) can cause risks to the brain, spine, and kidneys. AFB tests are done to know the presence of certain diseases and infections such as Tuberculosis, Leprosy, etc. If these diseases are not treated, they can become deadly. So the AFB test plays a very important role to find the infection in the body.
What the result of Acid-Fast Bacilli mean?
If the result is negative, it means that no bacteria were found in the sputum sample. If the result is positive it means that that bacteria were found and that you may have an infection.
| Term | Full Form |
| AFB | Acid-Fast Bacilli |
FAQ’s
AFB Full Form of is Acid-Fast Bacilli.
AFB is short form of Acid-Fast Bacilli.
Acid-Fast Bacilli is Full Form of AFB.