Cilia are minute structures present on the surface of respiratory and other epithelial cells which beat continuously and automatically. Ciliary beating creates a continuous movement of the surface peri-epithelial fluid which is often responsible for the normal functioning of the mucosa. Ciliary abnormalities could therefore lead to multi-system diseases. Patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia could potentially develop recurrent sinotrachrobronchitis, bronchiectasis, serous otitis media, hydrocephalus, and male infertility. The assessment of cilia has, however, received little attention until recently and generally involve elaborate methods which require complex and expensive technology. This brief article therefore discusses the application of the saccharine test, light microscopy assessment of ciliary beat, and transmission electron microscopy assessment of ultrastructure of cilia. The rationale and indications for light microscopy assessment are also listed along with illustrations which show ciliary structure, equipment required for sampling and assessment of cilia, and transmission electron micrographs of ciliary ultrastructural abnormalities.