Consider the following statements regarding Tuberculosis(TB) detection:
Statement I: Asymptomatic TB disease cases can be detected only with a chest X-ray.
Statement II: Sputum smear microscopy is the most reliable method for detecting TB cases.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Question

Question

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.
Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I.
Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect.
Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct.

Answer 1

The correct answer is option 3.

In News

The 100-day intensified TB elimination campaign screened millions of individuals emphasizing AI-enhanced X-ray screening for early detection.

Key Points

Asymptomatic TB cases, also called subclinical TB, do not present typical symptoms like cough, fever, or weight loss. These cases are best detected through chest X-rays, which can reveal abnormalities suggestive of TB even before symptoms develop. Hence, Statement-I is correct.
Sputum smear microscopy, while widely used, is effective only for detecting active TB cases with respiratory symptoms. It relies on the presence of TB bacteria in sputum, which asymptomatic individuals may not produce in sufficient quantities for detection. Hence, Statement-II is incorrect.

Additional Information

The 100-day intensified TB elimination campaign relied on chest X-rays to screen asymptomatic individuals, though its coverage was limited.
WHO recommends chest X-rays as a primary screening tool for subclinical TB, followed by molecular tests (e.g., CBNAAT/TrueNat) for confirmation.
Sputum smear microscopy is still used but has lower sensitivity than molecular tests and is ineffective for detecting asymptomatic TB.