Tuberculosis detection rate under DOTS

The percentage of estimated new infectious tuberculosis cases detected under the internationally recommended tuberculosis control strategy directly observed treatment shortcourse (DOTS). The term case detection, as used here, means that TB is diagnosed in a patient and is reported within the national surveillance system, and then to WHO. Smear-positive is defined as a case of TB where Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli are visible in the patient's sputum when examined under the microscope.