The frequency of patients with presumptive tuberculosis
(TB) who are not investigated by sputum smear
microscopy is unknown in Pakistan. Using a simple
intervention comparing patient and laboratory registers,
patients with presumptive TB were identified in two
districts from July to December 2013, a list of missing
patients was prepared and the patients traced. The
intervention significantly reduced the number of patients
with presumptive TB lost, from 8.5% before the
intervention to 6.9% after. A systematic comparison of
out-patient and laboratory registers, followed by tracing
missing persons, can reduce the proportion of patients
with presumptive TB lost before diagnosis