Artificial Intelligence in Screening: Computer-Aided Detection (CAD)
The World Health Organization has fully integrated Computer-Aided Detection (CAD) into its 2026 screening recommendations. CAD software uses artificial intelligence to analyze digital chest X-rays, identifying patterns suggestive of TB with accuracy that often exceeds that of human radiologists in high-burden settings.
Autonomous Triage: CAD systems assign an "abnormality score" (typically 0–100). Patients scoring above a calibrated threshold are automatically fast-tracked for molecular confirmation.
Workload Alleviation: In resource-constrained regions, AI prescreening has reduced radiologist workloads by over eighty percent, allowing human experts to focus only on complex or borderline cases.
Ultra-Portable Integration: Handheld X-ray devices now feature onboard AI, allowing for active case-finding in remote or marginalized communities without the need for internet connectivity.