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TUESDAY, March 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Chest computed tomography (CT) has higher sensitivity for detecting 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) than reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests, according to a study published online Feb. 26 in Radiology<\/i>.<\/p>\n
Tao Ai, M.D., Ph.D., from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China, and colleagues examined the diagnostic value and consistency of chest CT versus an RT-PCR assay of throat swab samples in 1,014 patients with COVID-19 who underwent both chest CT and RT-PCR tests.<\/p>\n
The researchers found that 59 and 88 percent of the patients had positive RT-PCR results and chest CT scans, respectively. Based on positive RT-PCR results, the sensitivity of chest CT in suggesting COVID-19 was 97 percent. Seventy-five percent of the patients with negative RT-PCR results had positive chest CT findings; of these, 48 percent were considered highly likely cases and 33 percent were considered probable cases. The mean interval time between the initial negative to positive RT-PCR results was 5.1 \u00b1 1.5 days; while the initial positive to subsequent negative RT-PCR result was 6.9 \u00b1 2.3 days. An initial positive CT consistent with COVID-19 prior (or in parallel) to the initial positive RT-PCR result was seen in 60 to 93 percent of cases. There was improvement in follow-up chest CT scans before RT-PCR results turned negative in 42 percent of cases.<\/p>\n
“Chest CT should be considered for the COVID-19 screening, comprehensive evaluation, and following-up, especially in epidemic areas with high pretest probability for disease,” the authors write.<\/p>\n
One author is an employee of Julei Technology Company.<\/p>\n