A randomised controlled trial of stepwise sputum collection to increase yields of confirmed tuberculosis

= 0.001). Most of the improvement was in patients who received instruction alone, while improvement was greatest in younger patients (adjusted odds ratio 1.27, 95%CI 1.05-1.53 per 10 years). CONCLUSIONS If implemented effectively in resource-limited primary care clinics, our simple stepwise procedure combining instruction and sputum induction could increase the proportion of bacteriologically confirmed TB significantly. .