Abstract: Objective  To evaluate the feasibility of using a line probe assay to detect multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in the grass-roots work of preventing and controlling TB.  Methods  459 sputum samples from smear-positive patients with pulmonary tuberculosis were examined rifampicin- and isoniazid-resistance by a line probe assay and conventional drug susceptibility testing. Results  The rifampicin- and isoniazid-resistant rates from line probe assay (5.9%, 27/459; 8.7%, 40/459) had no significant difference with those (6.3%, 29/459; 10.0%, 46/459) from the conventional drug susceptibility testing (χ²=0.038，P＞0.05; χ²=0.231，P＞0.05). Their concordance was 98.3%（451/459）for the rifampicin resistance and 97.4%（447/459）for the isoniazid resistance. Conclusion The line probe assay is a rapid, specific and feasible method for the early diagnosis of MDR-TB in the grassroots.

Key words: Mycobacterium tuberculosis/diagnosis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Microbial sensitivity tests, Drug resistance,multiple,bacterial, Rifampin, Isoniazid