Do CT scan detect covid-19 better than RT-PCR? Here is Details

More COVID-19 cases could be detected with a CT scan of the chest than through RT-PCR tests, claims a section of doctors in Tiruchy city. Dr Mohamed Hakkim, an emergency physician, explained the rationale.

“Covid is a respiratory disease and affects the lungs, Imaging of lungs done in a CT gives a very good finding, PCR test help only if the virus is in the nose or throat.

The medical fraternity in Gujarat have now come across an increasing number of cases where patients test negative in RT-PCR report but their high-resolution CT (HRCT) reveals significant infection in the lungs.

It should be noted that the central government had earlier said that the RT-PCR tests done in India do not miss the “UK, Brazil, South Africa and Double Mutant variants” of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes Covid-19. According to government data till April 15, a total of 1,189 samples have tested positive for ‘variants of concern’ of SARS COV-2 in India which include 1,109 samples with the UK variant, 79 samples with South African variant and one sample with the Brazil variant.

Vadodara Municipal Corporation has issued a notification stating that “the new strain of (novel) coronavirus is highly contagious and the virus does not necessarily show apositive test on RT-PCR.

“In cases where RT-PCR is negative but findings in HRCT and lab investigations are suggestive of viral etiology,the claim should be treated as that of Covid unless proved otherwise,” states VMC’s order issued under the Epidemic Act.

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