Abstract: Objective To describe the access to TB diagnosis among floating TB patients with different demographic,socioeconomic and clinical characteristics in Shanghai,and to study the impact of these factors. Methods A total of 116 newly diagnosed TB patients were registered in the study site from Sept.1.2003 to Aug.30.2004.The subjects were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Results The first health seeking delay,patient’s delay,doctor’s delay and treatment delay were 18.0,20.0,13.0 and 0 days in median,respectively.Lower income,first visiting to non-hospital,newly moving into Shanghai are significantly related to longer patient’s delay;whereas emptysis shortened the delay to the first health facility. Conclusion In order to detect TB patients timely,it is urgent to provide health education on TB knowledge for floating population,to promote the awareness of the disease.Lower income,unemployed and new immigrants should be given a priority in TB case detection.

Key words: Floating population, Pulmonary tuberculosis/prevention and control, Pulmonary tuberculosis/diagnostic