Abstract: Objective To guide the choosing diagnostic proce du res in routine TB control implementation through analysis on the cost and worklo ad of different diagnostic procedures for smear positive TB cases. Methods Imitated the situation o f one moderate county (with 500,000 population) TB dispensary that adopts 3 diag nostic procedures based on some available research data. Analysis two key indica tors, one is cost and one is workload. Results The workload of smear examination per day is the crucia l indicator for choosing the diagnostic procedure. Conclusion If sputa smear and reading under the microscopy per day by 1 lab staff is less than 25 slides, the best choice is using the procedur e that smear and X-ray film examination will be taken at the same time. Otherwi se, the procedure that using X-ray film as the screen tool should be adopted.

Key words: Pulmonary tuberculosis/diagnosis, Pulmonary tuberculo sis/economics