AFB Rapid culture by MGIT - Pus, abscess and aspirates (M)

The AFB Rapid Culture by MGIT – Pus, Abscess and Aspirates (M) test is a specialized microbiology test used to detect Acid-Fast Bacilli (AFB), particularly Mycobacterium tuberculosis, in pus, abscess fluid, or aspirate specimens. The test utilizes the Mycobacterial Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) system, an advanced liquid culture method that enables faster growth and detection of mycobacteria compared with conventional culture techniques. It is commonly used to diagnose extrapulmonary tuberculosis and other mycobacterial infections affecting soft tissues and deep-seated abscesses.

This test is recommended for patients with persistent abscesses, swollen lymph nodes, non-healing wounds, or suspected mycobacterial infections involving soft tissues. A sterile sample of pus, abscess fluid, or aspirate is collected and processed using the MGIT culture system to identify mycobacterial growth. The results help clinicians confirm the presence of tuberculosis or other mycobacterial infections, guide appropriate antimicrobial therapy, and support timely patient management when interpreted alongside clinical findings and other laboratory investigations.