Abstract: Objective To analyze referral and tracing condition of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB)reported by non-TB institutions from internet-based infectious disease reporting system from 2005 to 2008 in Xinjiang in order to explore the measures to improve case detection.   Methods TB control monthly report of Xinjiang from 2005 to 2008 were collected and analyzed.   Results The referral in place rate and tracing in place rate of patients reported by internet-based infectious disease reporting system were 32.5% and 54.1% respectively, and the overall in place rate was 63.4%. Among patients tracing in place, 69.2% were confirmed as pulmonary tuberculosis. The referral in place rate for smear positive, negative, and default were 41.9%, 26.0% and 34.3% respectively. PTB confirmation rate among tracing in place patients of smear positive, negative, and default patients reported by this reporting system were 96.0%, 80.8% and 53.8% respectively.   Conclusion Non-TB institutions play an important role in TB case detection. In order to improve PTB case detection, we should establish standardized working mechanism in TB register, report and referral and improve smear checking rate. These will finally contribute to case detection improvement.

Key words: tuberculosis, pulmonary/prevention and control, referral, Xinjiang