['Detection of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) cases is vital for tuberculosis (TB) control. Methods to augment sputum collection are available, but their additional benefit is uncertain in resource-limited settings.', 'To compare the diagnostic yields using five methods to obtain sputum from adults diagnosed with smear-negative PTB in Malawi.', 'Self-expectorated sputum was collected under supervision for microscopy and mycobacterial culture in the study laboratory. Confirmed smear-negative patients provided physiotherapy-assisted sputum and induced sputum, followed the next morning by gastric washing and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples.', 'A total of 150 patients diagnosed with smear-negative PTB by the hospital service were screened; 39 (26%) were smear-positive from supervised self-expectorated sputum examined in the study laboratory. The remaining 111 confirmed smear-negative patients were enrolled in the study; 89% were human immunodeficiency virus positive. Seven additional smear-positive cases were diagnosed using the augmented sputum collection techniques. No differences were observed in the numbers of cases detected using the different methods. Of the 46 smear-positive cases, 44 (95.6%) could be detected from self-expectorated and physiotherapy-assisted samples.'] Are simple measures as effective as invasive techniques in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in Malawi?