Reimagining the status quo: How close are we to rapid sputum-free tuberculosis diagnostics for all?
Summary
This review summarises key technologies in Tuberculosis triage and confirmation. Technologies such as artificial intelligence-based methods are particularly promising, with Hyfe featured as a potential rapidly scalable, and rapid screening tool for cough sound specimens.
This paper emphasizes the urgent need for rapid, accurate, sputum-free tuberculosis (TB) diagnostic tests. It reviews key technologies like artificial intelligence-based automated digital chest X-radiography and capillary blood point-of-care assays. Technologies such as artificial intelligence-based methods are particularly promising, with Hyfe featured as a potential rapidly scalable, and rapid screening tool for cough sound specimens.The paper discusses the challenges in the diagnostic pipeline, including a shortage of community-based tools and the difficulty in detecting paucibacillary TB. It also highlights the importance of designing and evaluating assays for optimal programmatic uptake, and leveraging the urgency and innovation from COVID-19 response for improving TB diagnostics
