Common question: If #coronavirus testing is still unavailable for so many Americans, why not use a CT scan? Wuhan briefly used this imaging technique and the number of suspected cases skyrocketed. But you will not see CT scans used that way in the United States. Here's why:
A CT scan is a series of X-rays taken from different angles that provides a detailed look at what's happening inside the body. The problem: CT images produced in coronavirus infection are non-specific & can overlap with other conditions like influenza.
Some think artificial intelligence could help distinguish the subtle difference, but we’re not there yet. A CT scan simply tells us something is happening in the lungs. We need more info.
So we rely on RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) for detection. It’s a biochemical test that isolates & amplifies a fragment of the virus. It’s more labor-intensive than CT, but also more accurate (and avoids radiation). In a pandemic, precision matters.
