The technology is designed to support sputum smear microscopy
Digital pathology company OptraScan is launching BactoSia, an AI-assisted tuberculosis (TB) treatment monitoring and follow-up technology designed to support sputum smear microscopy.
Widley used in TB care, sputum smear microscopy is a technique used to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum samples for diagnosing and monitoring pulmonary TB.
“Tuberculosis care cascade depends on how well different tools work together within real-world health systems,” said OptraScan CPO Devika Gholap. “By bringing automation and standardised bacillary grading to one of the most widely used TB tests in the world, BactoSia helps laboratories reduce reader variability, improve throughput, and deliver more consistent results, without adding operational complexity. This approach supports real-world implementation at scale.”
While rapid molecular diagnostics have advanced TB detection and drug-resistance testing, sputum smear microscopy still plays a central role in treatment monitoring, follow-up and decision-making. Many national TB programmes still rely on microscopy for operational, infrastructural or cost considerations, especially for serial testing during treatment.
By using OpraScan’s OS-SIA technology, BactoSia supports scalable, high-throughput TB screening by digitising and automating smear analysis. BactoSia addresses the need for consistent, repeatable bacillary assessment over the course of treatment by digitising and standardising smear microscopy workflows.
The solution combines high-resolution brightfield whole-slide imaging with AI-based algorithms to automatically detect and quantify acid-fast bacilli (AFB) on Ziehl-Neelsen-stained sputum samples. It performs scanning, indexing and AI-driven analysis simultaneously.
Results are available in minutes, generating standardised bacillary load grading (Scanty, 1+, 2+, 3+) aligned with internationally recognised TB reporting guidelines.
OptraScan will officially launch BactoSiA at WHX Labs World Health Expo, taking place February 10th to 13th 2026, in Dubai.
