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Number of People Screened for TB

References in the content below refer to the PBMEF Guide.

Definitions

The number of people who are screened for signs or symptoms of active TB disease either by verbal screening or other methods including chest X-ray (CXR).

"Screening" is defined as verbal screening for signs and symptoms of TB which identifies persons who are symptomatic, or radiologic screening using CXR and further referral for clinical evaluation and/or diagnostic testing. Screening may also include assessment for TB infection combined with or without testing by tuberculin skin test (TST) or interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA).

Numerator

Number of people screened for TB during the reporting period

Denominator

N/A
Ref #
DT_SCRN
(Previously PS-1)
Tier Level
Project Level Indicators
Category
Reach
Type
Output
Unit of Measure
Number of people
Data Type
Integer
Disaggregations
Age (0–4, 5–14, 15+)
Sex
Screening Method
Screening Location
Reporting Level
National and subnational
Reporting Frequency
Monthly, Quarterly

The data sources are basic management unit TB register, screening register, presumptive TB register, cough register, outpatient department registers, or electronic management information systems available at the health facility and district level.

Active case finding (ACF) or systematic screening for TB is an important tool to reach missing people with TB. It helps to reduce diagnosis and treatment delays and prevents the spread of the disease. Screening for active TB may reduce TB incidence, prevalence, and mortality; however, yield of ACF interventions varies substantially across populations.

Passive case finding, putting the burden of care seeking for TB on the patient, alone will not achieve the 90% treatment coverage target set out in many national strategic plans (NSPs) and global strategies. In high burden TB settings and among populations with poor access and uptake of TB diagnosis and care, systematic screening of people, particularly those in high-risk groups (i.e. HIV positive, contacts, prisoners), at both health facility-based and community based levels are crucial.

Careful monitoring of TB screening is needed to continuously evaluate and improve ACF activities to ensure effective planning and implementation.

This indicator should be evaluated in relation to the number of people eligible for screening. When the percentage of people screened is low, then ACF strategies should be evaluated in a way to reach target populations (i.e. more community-based volunteers, better screening tools at facilities, etc.). Understanding the cascade from ACF TB program data is crucial in order to correct gaps that could result in missing TB diagnoses and steps to take in addressing the barriers. Improved case finding is only relevant when people are initiated on treatment and when they successfully complete their treatment.

Example chart/graphs:

  • Trends over time and comparisons by risk group, geographic areas and by location (i.e. community-based or facility-based)
  • ACF cascade
    • Number of people eligible for screening
    • Number of people screened for TB
    • Number of people with presumptive TB
    • Number of people with presumptive TB tested
    • Number of people with presumptive TB diagnosed with TB
    • Number of people with confirmed TB starting TB treatment
There are no related indicators for this indicator.

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Changelog

February, 2024: Updated the name, definition, and other information based on the Interim PBMEF Tuberculosis Indicator Compendium.