AI-Powered Portable X-ray Machines Enhance TB Detection in UP

These portable devices, deployed at camps and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, are enhancing early detection and reducing diagnosis delays.

AI-powered handheld X-ray machines are accelerating India's efforts to eliminate tuberculosis (TB), particularly in Uttar Pradesh’s Siddharth Nagar district and other affected regions.

These portable devices, deployed at camps and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, are enhancing early detection and reducing diagnosis delays.

According to Chief Medical Officer Dr Rajat Kumar Chaurasia, "With the help of these portable X-ray machines, we do at least 150 tests in a day, though they have the capacity for more than 250 examinations within 5 seconds."

These devices allow on-the-spot TB screening in remote areas, minimizing the need for patients to visit diagnostic centers. The integration of artificial intelligence enhances accuracy, ensuring faster referrals for confirmatory testing.

Dr Chaurasia emphasized the role of nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) in TB diagnosis, stating, "If we find signs of TB disease in an X-ray, we send the patient for another test—NAAT—which confirms the diagnosis through sputum analysis in just 40 minutes to an hour. If positive, it's a notified case, and we start treatment immediately."

Discussing the effectiveness of handheld X-ray machines, he added, "The accuracy of this test is 90 percent. This machine is very useful for us in reaching the target of eliminating TB. Earlier, patients had to visit an X-ray center, but now we take these machines to them, reducing the time and improving access."

The National TB Prevalence Survey highlights that nearly 43% of TB cases would have been missed without chest X-rays, reinforcing the significance of such diagnostic advancements.

Introducing these screening tools has streamlined TB detection, ensuring early intervention and reducing transmission risks.

The WHO’s Global TB Report 2024 acknowledges India’s progress in enhancing case detection, attributing it to improved access to rapid diagnostic methods.