The project for the establishment of the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NTRL) in the Republic of the Philippines was a grant aid by the government of Japan as a token of friendship and cooperation through the Japan International Cooperation Agency. It was inaugurated on March 20, 2002. It aims to provide leadership in ensuring quality TB laboratory services and networking through efficient and effective management in support of the NTP.

The National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NTRL) is the laboratory arm of the National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) in the country mandated to conduct operational research, clinical research, and laboratory research especially for new diagnostics in support of clinical research for new TB drugs and vaccines.

Direct sputum smear microscopy: TB laboratory handbook 

Download the full Manual on Collection, Storage, and Transport of Specimens for TB Testing here.