VinBrain and FIT Jointly Release a White Paper on Utilizing Artificial Intelligence in Tuberculosis Screening

HANOI,Vietnam,June 10,2021 -- On June 10,2021,VinBrain (Vingroup) and FIT (a German NGO working in the field of Tuberculosis prevention and control) jointly releasea white paper on utilizingartificial intelligence (AI) in Tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis and screening in Vietnam. The white paperprovidesdoctors and medical specialists with a better understanding of the current situation of TB diagnosis,as well as introducing the AI model v1 for TB diagnosis and screening with a sensitivityof 86%andaspecificity of up to 96.1%.

Tuberculosis is the leading cause of deaths worldwidefrom an infectious disease,second only to COVID-19. Vietnam ranks 11th among the world's 30 highest TB burden countries. However,according to the National TB Control Program,about 62% of people with active,transmissible TB disease would have been missed if they had been screened using the standard diagnostic algorithm,which relied on verbal screen for prolonged cough.

With the determination toimprove the current situation of TB diagnosis and treatmentto save more lives,VinBrain and FIT have collaborated to write and release a white paperon "Utilizing AI in reading Chest X-rays for TB screening in Vietnam".

The white paper provides an overview of the current situation of TB diagnosisand screeningin Vietnam,andintroduces the AI model developed by VinBrain which helps improve the accuracyin readingChest X-raysfor TB diagnosis and screening. The solution has been developed via several steps includingsystem design,data collection and labeling,pre-processing and model training,model evaluation,model deployment and monitoring.

Todevelop the AI model,VinBrain utilized the Cloud Computing platform of Microsoft Windows Azure. On Windows Azure,VinBrainhasbuilt,deployed,and managed the model applications through Microsoft's global datacenters. In total,more than 500,000 TB X-ray images from Vietnam,India and Chinawere collected. After filtering out the poor-quality images,185,486images werecleaned for model training,evaluation and testing. The AI model v1for TB diagnosis and screening developed by VinBrain (launched on January 5,2021) achieved a sensitivity of 86%anda specificityof up to 96.1 %.

Tuberculosis Classification Approach

Tuberculosis Area Segmentation Approach

"The white paper on utilizing AI inTB diagnosis and screening has harnessed newtools and technologies to improve the current situation of thediagnosis and treatment of the disease,which has been considered to be 'incurable'. Technological solutions willhelp Vietnam to achieve its national goal of endingTB by 2030. This not only reflects Vingroup's determinationto build a better society,but also affirms its right strategy of investing in industry and high technology,"- Mr. Steven Truong,CEOof VinBrain,said.

VinBrain has integrated the AI model for TB diagnosis and screening into DrAid - its "Doctor Assistant". DrAid is anAI-powered product which can detect 21abnormalities and diseases of heart - lung - bone with anaverageaccuracy of over 88% within 5 seconds,and auto-generate medical reports. Thanks to this integration,the AI model can diagnose TB disease simultaneously with other lung diseases and abnormalities.

Doctors can now use DrAid to detect and screenTB by uploading X-ray images directly from the X-ray machines to the system and receiving diagnostic suggestions by AI.

ChestX-ray(CXR)is an effective and cost-effecient tool for TB diagnostic and classification.Hence,utilizingAI in readingCXRwill help find and treat more persons with TB,and thereby cut down community transmission./.

About VinBrain

VinBrain is the leading AI for Healthcare products company in Vietnam,funded by Vingroup - the largest conglomerate by market capitalization in Vietnam. Our mission is to infuse AI and IoT into healthcare to improve human lives and productivity. VinBrain aims to provide equitable access for everyone to the best healthcare solutions,knowledge,and services. DrAid - AI doctor assistant developped by VinBran -is the first AI-powered healthcare productin Vietnam. To date,it has been deployed in 84 hospitals and medical facilities across the country,including key hospitals such as Hue Central Hospital,University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City,Thai Nguyen Central Hospital.

About Friends for International TuberculosisRelief (FIT)

FIT is a German NGO working in the field of TB prevention and control. Since starting work in Viet Nam in 2013,FIT hashelped up to 4.4 million people and 6,500 TB patients. FIT VN and its affiliates currently have donor commitments to provide TB-related services in 22 districts of six major provinces of Viet Nam. Major sponsors and partners include the Stop TB Partnership/UNOPS,European Union Horizon 2020 program,World Health Organization,and CDC Foundation,as well as industry stakeholders such as Johnson & Johnson,Otsuka and Qiagen. Lastly,FIT has been a sub-recipient of US government funding from USAID.

For more information,visit https://www.vinbrain.net/

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