Table 1.

Reporting AFB through sputum smear microscopy¹⁶

Seen on slide	Result	Positive (grading)	Bacterial load
More than 10 AFB per field	POS	3+	Heavy
1–10 AFB per field	POS	2+	Medium
10–99 AFB in 100 fields	POS	1+	Low
1–9 AFB in 100 fields	POS	Record actual number	Very low
No AFB in 100 fields	NEG	0	Nil/not seen

AFB, acid-fast bacillus; NEG, negative; POS, positive.