Introduction. Tacna is a region with very high risk of tuberculosis transmission; however, the diagnostic performance of direct smears in their healthcare centers is 1.5%. Objectives. To describe the knowledge, perceptions and practices about detection of respiratory symptomatic subjects. Design. Cross sectional study. Setting. Health care centers of Tacna Regional Health Directorate. Participants. Health professionals including physicians and nurses. Interventions. A structured self-administered, anonymous questionnaire, developed by the authors, based on the current "Technical Standard for Comprehensive Management of People Affected by Tuberculosis", was applied to 178 health professionals (physicians and nurses). Main outcome measures. Absolute and relative frequency of adequate knowledge, perceptions and practices on detection of respiratory symptomatic subjects. Results. In the stud...