Microscopic examination of sputum samples is of special importance for the rapid presumptive diagnosis of tuberculosis because of slow growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in culture. The early diagnosis of active tuberculosis still depends on the presence of acid fast bacilli (AFB) in stained sputum smears. This study compares the efficacy of Ziehl Neelsen (ZN) staining with Acridine orange (AO) and Auramine rhodamine (AR) fluorochrome staining in the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB). A total of 2715 sputum samples were included and all samples were smeared and stained by using ZN staining and positive smears were subjected to fluorochrome staining AO and AR. Results of the study revealed that out of 2715 samples, 373 (13.73%) were smear positive by ZN staining while others were negative. The proportion of positive smears detected was 12.85% and 10.82% for the AO and AR staining methods respectively. ZN staining was found more sensitive than fluorescent stains (AO and AR) for the diagnosis of TB.