Abstract: Objective To analyze the situation of register on the nationwide smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis(PTB) cases,to provide relevant evidence in order to evaluate the quality of diagnosis on initial smear-negative TB cases. Methods According to data from register of initial smear-negative PTB and initial smear-positive PTB from report forms of the National TB Control Programme(NTP) from 2004 to 2005,the change of the notification rate on initial smear-negative PTB cases and its increased range of the every province during the two years were analyzed;proportion of the notification rate of smear-negative TB cases and smear-positive TB cases among every province and different area were calculated;linear regression analysis was done for the notification rate of both smear-negative and smear-positive TB. Results The number of registered initial smear-negative TB case in the country in 2005 was 316 405 with the notification rate of 24.27/100 000,rang of the notification rate of different provinces was 6.01/100 000～72.17/100 000.The number of notified smear-negative TB cases increased 19.9% compared to 2004 among which two provinces decreased compared to 2004,while the number in other provinces increased between the range of 0.5%～62.3%;the notification rate of initial smear-positive TB was as 1.5 times as that of smear-negative TB,among which notification rate of smear-positive TB was higher than that of smear-negative TB in 22 provinces and lower in 8 provinces;the proportion of the notification of initial smear negative TB to initial smear positive TB was 149.28% in Beijing,Tainjin and Shanghai,83.6% in non-project area and 50.3% in project area.Linear regression analysis on notification rate of smear-negative TB and smear-positive TB was done and the linear regression equation was Y= 22.342+0.563 6 x. Conclusion The notification rate of smear-negative TB has increased after the policy of providing free treatment to initial smear negative TB was implementing.However,the notification of smear-negative TB,its incremental range and the proportion of the notification of smear negative TB to smear positive TB are substantially different among provinces.Due to the difficulty in diagnosis of smear-negative cases,it is necessary to examine and evaluate the quality on the diagnosis of smear-negative cases in the areas of higher notification or substantial incremental range,especially in the areas where DTOS have carried out for short period of time and with limited human resource.

Key words: Tuberculosis,pulmonary/prevention and control, Smear negative cases, Analysis of the situation of registration