Telangana: Chest scan handy tool to test Covid infection

Hyderabad: CT scan of the chest is proving to be a handy screening tool for private healthcare providers to ascertain if there is any Covid-19 infection in patients visiting their hospital for various treatments. This test is being done by private hospitals in twin-cities and in districts in case they have to do surgeries and long procedures.

There are no proven rapid tests available for this new disease as yet and RT-PCR test, though it is confirmatory of Covid infection, is being done in limited facilities in the state and even the test results will take a minimum of 48 hours to come out.

In the meantime, hospitals cannot delay treatment for patients, especially those requiring urgent medical attention like in case of injuries, accidents or stroke-related issues and hence the dependency on CT scan is preferred. Waiting for two to three days for RT-PCR result has its limitations as the patient (if not requiring emergency surgery) has to be admitted in the hospital for the meantime and doctors, nursing staff, family members and relatives of the patient are at risk of infection for coming in contact with the patient.

Dr Raj Kumar, a pulmonologist working in Karimnagar, said that CT scan will give an 80 per cent idea whether the patient has any infection in the lungs. This test has been the go-to method for the doctors for the last month after hospitals resumed services. He said that the test result is known within minutes and accordingly doctors planned their further medical treatment on the patients.

CT chest scan does not cost more than Rs 5,000 and when advised about the need to undergo this test by the doctors majority of the patients gave their nod. CBP (Complete Blood Picture) test along with CT Scan will more or less give a clear idea to the doctors if the patient has Novel coronavirus infection or not that can be confirmed later by RT-PCR testing.

Dr V Rakesh, president of Telangana Network Hospitals Association, said that CT Scan proved to be a big advantage as RT-PCR testing cannot be done in all hospitals. He urged the government to ensure more Covid-19 testing facilities in the districts since it is confined majorly to Hyderabad and at MGM, Warangal. Samples are being collected at major state hospitals in districts and being sent to Hyderabad and hence there is a waiting period for reports.