CT Scans/X-Rays Should Be Used To Rule Out False Negatives In Symptomatic COVID Patients: Experts

Top Indian experts on Monday said that clinical features and CT scans/chest X-rays should be used to rule out false negatives in symptomatic patients followed by a repeat test after 24 hours.

RT-PCR tests detect coronavirus in around 80 per cent of the cases. Amid SARS COV-2 ‘variants of concern’ circulating, they said RT-PCR tests do not miss mutations as the ones being used in India target more than two genes, experts were quoted as saying by News18 from a PTI report.

The RT-PCR test has a sensitivity of around 80 per cent, so 20 per cent of the cases can still be missed out.

“Also, if the sample is not properly taken or if the test is done too early when the viral load is low, it may come out negative. So, if a person is symptomatic, a combination of clinical features, laboratory reports, CT/chest X-ray can be used for presumptive diagnosis of COVID-19 and treatment should be started accordingly. The test should also be repeated after 24 hours,” AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria told PTI.

Dr Samiran Panda, Head of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases at the Indian Council of Medical Research, said the mutants, variants from the UK, Brazil and South Africa are not able to evade the diagnostic RT-PCR testing that is being conducted in India.

“In India, we have to be able to detect two or more genes of virus so if a mutation happens on one area then the RT-PCR test kits will be able to capture it and it is capturing. However, some of the infections will remain undetected irrespective of the mutations happening,” Panda was quoted as saying. Moreover, all the mutants have been identified from these tests only, he said.

Clinical symptoms and CT scan reports should be the guiding factor for treatment rather than relying only on the RT-PCR test which has a sensitivity of around 80 per cent, another senior doctor said. Even the rapid antigen test has a sensitivity of only 40 per cent, he said, adding, “So many patients will be missed if we rely only upon these tests.”