Sputum smear microscopy among symptomatic patients confirms TB diagnosis.Effective control of TB is dependent on early detection of infectious TB patients (smear-positive pulmonary TB) and provision of proper TB treatment with close follow-up.

The first step in early detection of infectious TB cases is the proper identification of TB suspects by different health-care providers. All health-care providers that deal with respiratory symptomatic cases should be able to identify potential TB patients and refer them to the nearest diagnostic centre.

The second step is the accurate diagnosis of pulmonary TB using sputum smear microscopy with respiratory symptomatic patients. Hence, it is essential to build a network of laboratories that provides accurate and reliable services for diagnosis and monitoring of TB patients.

In addition to improving sputum smear microscopy, the Stop TB Strategy recognizes the need to upgrade existing laboratory services and to strengthen/build capacity to perform culture and drug susceptibility testing throughout a country, in addition to applying new diagnostic tests that facilitate TB early detection such as G-Xpert MTB/RIF.