Abstract: Objective  To evaluate the value of the sputum smear by control membrane model in detecting mycobacteria. Methods  1089 sputum samples from new patients diagnosed with active pulmonary tuberculosis were detected mycobacteria with the sputum smear by control membrane model and the sputum smear by sight. We compared them with Lowenstein-Jensen (L-J) culture method.  Results  The positive rate was 31.68%（345/1089）in sputum smear by control membrane model. It was higher than that (24.24%,264/1089）in sputum smear by sight (χ²=14.955; P<0.05), but was close that in the L-J culture(38.20%,416/1089）(Z=-8.310, P=0.001). The quality of the sputum smear by control membrane model was improved in cells of sputum smear, sputum membrane size,sputum membrane thickness, acid fast stain and sputum membrane falling off. With the L-J culture as standard, the sensitivity and kappa value of sputum smear by control membrane model were 82.69%（344/416）and 0.853, respectively. They were better than those(63.46%, 0.680) of sputum smear by sight. It showed that there were consistent with the sputum smear by control  membrane model and the L-J culture.  Conclusion  The sputum smear by control membrane model is not only simple and rapid but also high quality in smear and high positive rate. It is suit for microscopy laboratory application.

Key words: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Sputum, Bacteriological , techniques