AI assisted innovative low-cost skin testing model to accelerate person-centered TB prevention services in Tanzania, Mozambique and Uganda.

With an estimated 2 billion people worldwide infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), TB infection (TBI) constitutes the largest human reservoir of a highly pathogenic infectious disease. As one in four individuals globally carries this latent threat, tuberculosis (TB) cannot be eliminated without addressing those who carry the infection. Given the global burden of TBI, and the substantial individual- and population-level benefits of TB preventive treatment (TPT), the WHO has prioritized TPT as a cornerstone to end TB. TEST4TPT embodies a groundbreaking approach to revolutionize TB prevention in sub-Saharan Africa, aligning perfectly with Global Health EDCTP3's mission to combat infectious diseases. This innovative project will deliver beyond proof-of-concept data for a cutting-edge point-of-care solution to test for TBI, thereby increasing the initiation and completion of TPT. By advancing a comprehensive package of interventions, TEST4TPT will make TBI diagnostics more accessible and affordable in commercially challenging markets, while prioritizing vulnerable populations. The project's community-driven approach ensures trusted demand for new and repurposed tools, reaching even the most marginalized communities. TEST4TPT aims to measure effectiveness of TBI testing using SIILTIBCY compared to standard of care among contact persons of people with newly diagnosed TB disease. TEST4TPT goes beyond proof of concept because its accuracy and diagnostic yield have already been evaluated in different contexts. However, no trials have been conducted assessing the impact of such intervention (including AI driven digital solutions for test results reading) among patient important outcomes (such as TPT initiation, adherence, and completion). TEST4TPT represents a unique opportunity to clarify the likely hypothesis that this diagnostic intervention indeed contributes to expand the life-saving strategy of TPT, which constitute a global health priority.