ICMR's three indigenous handheld X-ray devices takes a step forward in TB screening

Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel inaugurated the India Innovation Summit – Pioneering Solutions to End TB, at Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre. The summit is being organised jointly by the Department of Health Research-Indian Council of Medical Research (DHR-ICMR) and the Central TB Division (CTD), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW). The summit aims to accelerate India's progress towards TB elimination by 2025.

Addressing the gathering, Patel highlighted India’s remarkable progress in TB control and the pivotal role of innovation in this mission.

Underlining the innovations rolled out under the programme, Patel stated that ICMR has validated three indigenous handheld X-ray devices, which makes it possible to reach vulnerable population groups for TB screening. Hand-held devices offer the advantages of low weight, portability, and low radiation exposure and are being used in the 100-day accelerated programme.

She also added that ICMR partnered with the Institute of Plasma Research, Ahmedabad, to develop DeepCXR, a tool for artificial intelligence-based reporting chest X-ray films. AI tools are expected to be a game changer in detecting presumptive TB patients and quick initiation of treatment. ICMR also validated CyTb skin test for the detection of latent TB infection, developed by the Serum Institute of India against Interferon gamma release assay (IGRA), which is the preferred test for latent TB detection. However, IGRA is expensive and it may not be feasible to be introduced in resource-limited countries. The overall performance of CyTb was better than the currently used tuberculin skin test.

Patel further added that “ICMR conducted a multicentric validation of PathoDetectTM an indigenous molecular diagnostic NAAT test which can perform 32 tests simultaneously, detects MTB complex and first-line drug resistance to rifampicin (RIF) and Isoniazid (INH) simultaneously as a one-step process. Overall, the performance of PathoDetectTM was comparable to other molecular assays. Deployment of this test in the 100-day programme, along with the already available TruNat test, has enhanced the capacity of molecular diagnosis of TB and early detection of drug resistance.

Patel added, "Moreover, the Quantiplus MTB FAST Detection Kit developed by Huwel Lifesciences is the first in the world indigenous open system RTPCR kits developed in India and validated by ICMR. In comparison to the gold standard liquid culture, the sensitivity of the kit is 86 per cent and specificity is 96 per cent. These kits are likely to be low-cost and have the potential to expand the outreach of TB molecular testing, including more than 3300 RTPCR machines used during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlighting the achievements of the National TB Elimination Program (NTEP), Patel stated that the programme is steadily progressing towards the goal of eliminating TB by 2025. The number of missing cases has been reduced from 15 lakh in 2015 to 2.5 lakhs in 2023. The programme was able to notify 25.5 lakh TB and 26.07 lakh cases in 2023 and 2024-the highest ever.

The one-and-a-half-day summit featured over 200 groundbreaking innovations, including handheld X-ray devices for rapid TB screening, AI-powered diagnostic tools, and new molecular testing technologies. The event provides a platform for innovators to engage with policymakers, regulators, and experts, ensuring that promising solutions are integrated into national TB programmes.

With over 1,200 participants from academia, industry, healthcare, and research, the summit aims to foster crucial collaborations. A key focus is identifying innovations with potential for large-scale implementation and linking them with government initiatives for further development. The India Innovation Summit reaffirms the government’s unwavering commitment to eradicating TB by 2025, leveraging scientific advancements and community-driven efforts to accelerate progress toward this ambitious goal.

More than 200 innovations shaping India's fight against TB are to be showcased at an exhibition along with over 30 scientific sessions on innovations, lectures, roundtables and panel discussions during the summit.

Former Secretary DHR and DG ICMR Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Joint Secretary DHR Ms Anu Nagar, Sr DDG (Admin) ICMR MS Manisha Saxena and other senior officials and scientists from the Ministry and ICMR also participated in the summit. Among the global participants, Dr Trevor Mundel, President, Global Health, Gates Foundation and Prof Guy Marks (the Union) marked their presence at the inaugural event.

Dr Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, DHR & Director General, ICMR, highlighted the transformative role of research and indigenous technologies in India’s TB elimination effort.

He added that the summit serves as a crucial platform to bring together stakeholders and fast-track the adoption of these solutions into national TB programmes. He underlined the crucial role played by homegrown innovations that benefit not only India but also contribute to the global TB elimination mission.

Dr VK Paul, Member NITI Aayog, stated that the event is an important step in the direction of an innovation-led push to achieve the goal of elimination of TB. The summit is bringing together pioneers in TB research and technology to translate ideas into impactful solutions.

PIB