Best method to find out cases of TB in a community is -

Sputum smear examination by direct microscopy is now considered as the method of choice for case finding. The reliability, cheapness and ease of direct microscopic examination has made it number one case-finding method all over the world . It enables us to discover the epidemiologically most impoant cases of pulmonary tuberculosis , ie; those excreting tubercle bacilli in their sputum . Ref: PARK&;S TEXTBOOK OF PREVENTIVE AND SOCIAL MEDICINE 23rd edition , Page :182