Tuberculosis sputum specimen processing and culture practices from the highest enrolling sites of protocol-correct patients, TBTC Study 28.

*If multiple solid media were inoculated at a site laboratory for analysis we used only one solid media result based upon media type. Solid media results were used in the following order of preference - LJ >7H11 >7H10.**Represents 18 laboratories serving 15 study sites.***Cultures in BACTEC 460 were read daily for the first 10 days and approximately weekly thereafter.