Lab
AFB medical abbreviation
AFB means "acid-fast bacilli".
Each meaning matched at least two public references (3 in all for AFB), checked October 23, 2026. The table lists them.
Run it in Rivvi
Ask what AFB means in your note
Paste a sig line, a note, or a claim and Rivvi spells out each abbreviation and flags the ones on the Do Not Use list.
Ask RivviFree to start. No card. Opens Rivvi, the AI workspace for healthcare teams.
What AFB means
| Meaning | Latin origin | Where used | Checked against |
|---|---|---|---|
| acid-fast bacilli | None | Lab orders, Charting |
Example
Sample lab order: "AFB smear."
A made-up line that shows the abbreviation in place. It is not about any patient and is not an instruction.
Related abbreviations
Elsewhere on Rivvi
Questions
What does AFB mean in medical terms?
AFB means "acid-fast bacilli".
Where is AFB used?
AFB shows up in lab orders and charting. Its category here is lab.
Is AFB on the Joint Commission Do Not Use list?
No. AFB is not on the Joint Commission Do Not Use list or the ISMP error-prone list as checked on October 23, 2026.