Tuberculosis continues to be a major health problem in developing country and is the single largest cause of loss in healthy life year in the productive age group. There are various methods for bacteriological diagnosis of tuberculosis. Smear examination is believed to be simple, cheap, quick and practicable and effective case finding method for developing countries. The present study was undertaken to compare the diagnostic efficacy of fluorescent staining with Zeihl–neelsen(ZN) staining in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. 150 cases of suspected pulmonary tuberculosis were included in the study. 300 sputum samples(2 from each patient) were screen for Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) by Z–N & Fluorescent staining methods. Positive samples detected by fluorescent stain were 39(13%) when compared to Zn stain 26(8.66%). Conclusion: Compared to Z–N stain (8.66%) fluorescent staining was found to be more efficient (13%) in AFB detection from cases of Pulmonary Tuberculosis.