New research project aims to transform tuberculosis diagnosis with AI-powered technology
13:37 · July 27, 2026 · RSS APP - AI Primary Research

Despite being preventable and curable, tuberculosis continues to place a significant burden on healthcare systems in low-resource settings in South Africa.
Summary
An international research consortium has launched the AddiCAD project to develop a non-sputum diagnostic approach for tuberculosis that integrates AI-based chest X-ray analysis with a fingerstick biomarker assay. Coordinated by Stellenbosch University and funded with R46 million from the Global Health EDCTP3 programme, the initiative brings together partners from South Africa, Namibia, the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom and The Gambia, including Delft Imaging Systems.
The core technical contribution is the fusion of CAD4TB, an established AI model that detects radiographic signs of tuberculosis on digital chest X-rays, with a blood-based test that quantifies the host immune response to infection. Early data indicate that this multimodal combination yields a 20 percent gain in specificity relative to CAD4TB alone, while preserving sensitivity. The improvement is intended to lower false-positive rates that currently lead to unnecessary follow-up testing in high-burden, resource-constrained environments.
Over the coming years the consortium will finalise a companion biosensor and mobile application, then conduct a clinical validation study enrolling approximately 1 000 adults with presumptive tuberculosis across sites in South Africa, Namibia and The Gambia. The work also includes engagement with regulators, health-care providers and implementation partners to prepare for eventual scale-up in settings where laboratory infrastructure and sputum collection remain practical barriers to timely diagnosis.
Why it matters
This article highlights the active participation of a Dutch AI company (Delft Imaging Systems) in a major EU-funded global health research initiative. It offers researchers insights into multimodal AI diagnostic models combining imaging and biomarkers.








