A retrospective cross-sectional study among recruits and troops stationed in Lucknow was carried out for the period 1991-95, to detect the microfilaraemia rate among them, with the aim to define high risk groups. Out of 8859 recruits screened in the five year period 151 (1.7%) were positive for microfilaria (MF), whereas out of 13,131 serving soldiers 88 (0.67%) were positive (Relative risk 2.54, 95% CI between 1.96 and 3.30). Only 0.47 per cent of recruits and 0.26 per cent of soldiers from non endemic states were found positive for MF which highlights the need to review the policy of indiscriminate mass screening of soldiers in military stations for microfilaraemia.