• If a smear result is negative, provide the patient with all available diagnostic techniques during a second visit including Xpert MTB/RIF, repeated microscopy, culture, chest x-ray and clinical evaluation.


• The exam results (except for culture) should be available quickly and a decision should be made if the patient should receive TB treatment, or a broad spectrum antibiotic (not a fluoroquinolone alone) for bacterial infection or Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP).

Click here for a description of guidelines for diagnosing PTB in HIV+ patients.