EFFICIENCY OF SERIAL SMEAR EXAMINATIONS IN EXCLUDING SPUTUM SMEAR POSITIVE TUBERCULOSIS

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study determined the number of slides required to identifyone additional case of sputum smear positive tuberculosis from the second smear.METHOD: In a record based study, data was abstracted from TB laboratory register of the District Hospital laboratory.RESULTS: A total of 4568 suspected sputum was examined at the D H Q laboratory during the period 1st January 2004 to 30th June 2007. Eight hundred forty seven suspects had two or more sputum smear positive slides; out of these 815 suspects had all three slides positive. Only 32 suspects had their 1st slide negative. One thousand six hundred and thirty extra slides were prepared to detect 4% additional case of sputum positive T.B.CONCLUSIONS; The requirement of routine examination of three serial smearsbefore declaring a suspect as a 'non-case' of sputum smear positive T.B needs to be reviewed.