6.1 Introduction

Globally, up to 30% of people with tuberculosis (TB) are estimated to be undetected and thus untreated [1] Citation 1. World Health Organization. WHO consolidated guidelines on tuberculosis. Module 2: screening – systematic screening for tuberculosis disease. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2021. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240022676 .

The purpose of screening for active TB (also referred to as "intensive case finding for TB") is to improve case detection.

It aims to identify, within groups at high risk of TB (e.g. contacts of a person with TB, HIV-infected persons), individuals most at risk who should undergo a TB diagnostic test. 

Screening allows for early diagnosis, and consequently early treatment, which contributes to improving treatment outcomes and reducing TB transmission.

Screening also allows the identification of people who may benefit from diagnosis and/or treatment of latent TB infection (LTBI).

Screening for active TB should be undertaken only if adequate capacity is available for the diagnosis and treatment of active TB.