A first-morning sputum specimen is received for acid-fast cu…

A first-morning sputum specimen is received for acid-fast culture. The specimen is centrifuged, and the sediment is inoculated on two Lowenstein-Jensen slants that are incubated at 35C in 5%-10% CO2. After 1 week, the slants show abundant growth over the entire surface. Stains reveal gram-negative bacilli. To avoid this problem: