This book explains the principles of design , costing and operating of a tuberculosis reference laboratory in developing countries is not necessarily a space confined within walls and a closed door. Space planning criteria is used to designate different areas for a specific purpose or function.Related functions may often be advantageously located inside the same four walls. There are, however , a few functions which have to be totally isolated from others, for example, the media processing section, which has quite specific criteria for cleanliness and if feasible, a dark room for fluorescence microscopy.A tuberculosis reference laboratory is designed to take account of the fact that all laboratory functions are to constitute a compact unit in which the employees can move between the various parts of the laboratory without having to pass through doors.