The sputum smear test is a simple, rapid and reliable method, but it lacks sensitivity and may give false-positive results. A positive sputum smear only indicates the presence of Mycobacterium acidophilus in the sputum, but it cannot distinguish between Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium non-tuberculosis. Therefore, if the sputum smear result is positive, it should be combined with the history of contact with tuberculosis, the clinical symptoms of tuberculosis, and imaging to determine whether tuberculosis is infected. The sputum culture test is the gold standard for TB diagnosis, and there are no false positives in this test. A positive sputum culture test result means that a strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been cultured in the sputum. This is when some standardized anti-tuberculosis treatment is administered.