Report of the WHO consultation on systematic screening for tuberculosis, Geneva, Switzerland, 16-18 October 2024

This report summarizes the proceedings of a World Health Organization consultation on systematic screening for tuberculosis (TB), held in Geneva in October 2024, which aimed to review current evidence, country practices and future directions for TB screening. It situates TB as a leading infectious cause of death globally and emphasizes the importance of systematic screening as a core strategy to improve early detection, reduce transmission and support the targets of the End TB Strategy. The consultation examined national policies, implementation experiences and screening approaches across diverse epidemiological settings, drawing on survey data and in-depth country reviews.

The report highlights key themes including the effectiveness of facility- and community-based screening, the use of diagnostic tools such as chest radiography and emerging technologies, and the role of screening in high-risk populations. It identifies major challenges to scaling up screening, including resource constraints, data system limitations and barriers to implementation, while also documenting enabling factors such as policy alignment, technological advances and community engagement. The consultation further explored research priorities and potential updates to WHO guidance, providing a basis for strengthening global and national strategies for TB screening.