AI tool flags asymptomatic TB cases in Andhra Pradesh pilot
An artificial intelligence-based respiratory screening platform has shown encouraging results in detecting tuberculosis (TB) and other lung conditions at an early stage in Andhra Pradesh.
Health workers used the tool, Swaasa, in East Godavari district during a six-week community exercise. They screened nearly 8,000 individuals from vulnerable groups. Officials said around 36 per cent of the TB cases found during the pilot were asymptomatic. This helped enable early diagnosis and timely intervention. The platform also recorded a diagnostic yield of about 30 per cent. This is higher than conventional symptom-based active case-finding methods.
The team conducted the pilot under the MedTech Innovation Challenge 2025. The Andhra Pradesh government and the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub supported the initiative. The programme covered several primary health centres in the district.
Salcit Technologies developed Swaasa as a clinically validated platform. It uses smartphone-recorded cough samples to assess respiratory health. The tool screens for TB, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The organisers shortlisted the company among 18 from nearly 300 applicants. It later carried out the field pilot.
Auxiliary nurse midwives led door-to-door screenings using smartphones. They captured cough samples for instant AI-based risk analysis. They referred high-risk individuals for confirmatory tests such as NAAT, chest X-rays, and spirometry. Medical teams then ensured follow-up, diagnosis, and treatment linkage.
Narayana Rao, founder and Chief Technology Officer of Salcit Technologies, said the initiative shows how simple tools can strengthen early detection. “A cough recorded on a smartphone can help identify serious conditions such as TB even before symptoms appear,” he said.
Former Andhra Medical College principal Dr P V Sudhakar said the platform marks a significant step in detecting respiratory diseases. He highlighted its relevance for rural and underserved areas. He added that its validation in Visakhapatnam shows strong potential for wider public health use.
Salcit Technologies CEO Venkat Yechuri said the tool analyzes a 10-second forced cough sample. It showed better detection rates than existing approaches. “It identified TB cases even among individuals without visible symptoms. It can also screen for asthma and COPD, enabling multi-disease detection through a single test,” he said.
A multinational pharmaceutical company supported the pilot. It provided diagnostic equipment for follow-up testing. Officials added that the technology was earlier tested for COVID-19 detection.