Abstract: Objective To analyze clinic-visiting of suspected pulmonary TB in the county and township hospitals. MethodsThe questionnaires were carried out among 150 clinical visitors with suspected pulmonary TB from 8 townships in Guizhou province. Results“Treatment opportunity cost” for clinic-visiting at county-level was 16.8 times as much as those at township-level. 58.7% visitors with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis went to basic medical units as the first diagnosis unit, and 44.7% suspected were delayed before the first diagnosis. There were only 30.7% TB patients diagnosed at the center of TB control at county-level and 16.7% TB patients delayed at the same level.The average cost for suspected visitors at township-level was 149.13 yuan. Sputum inspections were made for 67.9% suspected. ConclusionIt is convenient to carry out sputum inspection for patients at township-level, but most of patients couldn’t get free examinations. It’s very serious that TB patients’diagnosis were delayed at non-antituberculosis institutions.

Key words: pulmonary tuberculosis/prevention & control, rural health, questionnaires