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Grading of smears
The table below depicts information on grading and the number of fields to be examined in
different situations:-
Examination finding
No. of fields
examined
Grading
Result
No AFB in 100 oil immersion
fields
100
0
Neg
1-9 AFB per 100 oil immersion
fields
100
Scanty*
Pos
10-99 AFB per 100 oil immersion
fields
100
1+
Pos
1-10 AFB per oil immersion field
50
2+
Pos
More than 10 AFB per oil
immersionfield
20
3+
Pos
*Record actual number of bacilli seen in 100 fields – e.g. “Scanty 4”
135