Background: Large number of pulmonary tuberculosis Patients (PTB) irrespective of their anti-tubercular treatment profile, presenting with symptoms of active pulmonary tuberculosis but their sputum smear for AFB by Zeihl Neelson technique is negative or who are unable to expectorate sputum in spite of best coughing technique. Such type of patients may require alternative methods to early diagnose and appropriate line of treatment to check further transmission of tuberculosis in the community.