My turn to bite . . . 

What's an AAFB?

Atypical Acid Fast Bacteria?

Alcohol-resistant Acid Fast Bacteria?

Agnostic Acid Fast Bacteria?

Arrogant Acid Fast Bacteria?

You get the idea. I think I will have fun
making up other "A" names for AFB
for the rest of the day.

Peggy A. Wenk, HTL(ASCP)
William Beaumont Hospital
Royal Oak, MI 48073


-----Original Message-----
From: N Kenneison <nakenneison.demon.co.uk@nakenneison.demon.co.uk>
To: histonet@pathology.swmed.edu <histonet@pathology.swmed.edu>
Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2000 2:38 PM
Subject: AAFB vs AFB


>Hi there a little question has arisen whilst talking to microbiologist =
>rough jist is - 
>
>AFB = AAFB according to Microbiologist
>Leprae is an AFB only not a an AAFB
>All infectious, opportunistic / atypical or otherwise are all AAFB and
>not AFB,
>
>AFB are only seen in Wadefite staining, but not in ZN ( no alcohol
>fastness)
>AAFB are seen in both ZN and Wadefite.
>
>As the above is true why does all literature refer only to AFBs  and not
>differentiate between AFBs and AAFBs - is this just a nomenclature fault
>continued over the years or just sloppy writing.
>
>Can anyone give an example of an Acid Fast Bacilli that causes human
>disease that is not seen if subjected to alcohol immersion (ZN stain).
> Any answers out there 
>-- 
>N Kenneison
>
>