August 11, 2023
1 min read

AI microscope detects Malaria with precision

The team evaluated samples using both manual light microscopy and the AI-microscope system…reports Asian Lite News

An international team of researchers has tested the accuracy of an automated microscope, combined with AI software, to identify malaria parasites in blood samples of travellers in a true clinical setting — an additional diagnostic approach to disease detection.

Each year, more than 200 million people fall sick with malaria and more than half a million of these infections lead to death.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends parasite-based diagnosis before starting treatment for the disease caused by Plasmodium parasites.

In the new study that appeared in the journal Frontiers in Malaria, the researchers sampled more than 1,200 blood samples of travellers who had returned to the UK from malaria-endemic countries.

They tested the accuracy of the AI and automated microscope system in a true clinical setting under ideal conditions.

“At an 88 per cent diagnostic accuracy rate relative to microscopists, the AI system identified malaria parasites almost, though not quite, as well as experts,” said Dr Roxanne Rees-Channer, a researcher at The Hospital for Tropical Diseases at UCLH in the UK.

This level of performance in a clinical setting is a major achievement for AI algorithms targeting malaria.

“It indicates that the system can indeed be a clinically useful tool for malaria diagnosis in appropriate settings,” Rees-Channer added.

The team evaluated samples using both manual light microscopy and the AI-microscope system.

By hand, 113 samples were diagnosed as malaria parasite positive, whereas the AI-system correctly identified 99 samples as positive, which corresponds to an 88 per cent accuracy rate.

Automated malaria diagnosis has several potential benefits, the scientists pointed out.

“Even expert microscopists can become fatigued and make mistakes, especially under a heavy workload,” Rees-Channer said.

“Automated diagnosis of malaria using AI could reduce this burden for microscopists and thus increase the feasible patient load.” Furthermore, these systems deliver reproducible results and can be widely deployed, the scientists wrote.

ALSO READ-Twitter changes its bird logo to ‘X’ officially

Previous Story

Video calls arriving on X soon, confirms CEO Yaccarino

Next Story

Army chief Gen Manoj Pande receives ceremonial welcome in UK

Latest from -Top News

India-EU Trade Talks Resume

The proposed India-EU FTA covers 23 policy areas, or chapters, of which at least two – market access and rules of origin – have yet to be resolved….reports Asian Lite News India

India Launches Relief Ops in Bhutan

The Royal Government of Bhutan has expressed sincere gratitude to the Indian Army…reports Asian Lite News Amid unprecedented floods caused by a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal, relentless rainfall has

Jaishankar Hints at Tariff Deal with US

Jaishankar explained that the ongoing trade tensions largely stem from the inability of both sides to reach a common ground on several issues….reports Asian Lite News External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on
Go toTop

Don't Miss

YouTube to crack down on AI-generated videos via labels

This is important in cases where the content discusses sensitive

Samsung enters GenAI race with own AI model

Samsung Gauss is currently used on employee productivity but will