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Combining PCR and CT testing for COVID

Authors :
Shen, Chen
Mark, Ron
Kagetsu, Nolan J.
Becker, Anton S.
Bar-Yam, Yaneer
Publication Year :
2020

Abstract

We analyze the effect of using a screening CT-scan for evaluation of potential COVID-19 infections in order to isolate and perform contact tracing based upon a viral pneumonia diagnosis. RT-PCR is then used for continued isolation based upon a COVID diagnosis. Both the low false negative rates and rapid results of CT-scans lead to dramatically reduced transmission. The reduction in cases after 60 days with widespread use of CT-scan screening compared to PCR by itself is as high as $50\times$, and the reduction of effective reproduction rate $R(t)$ is $0.20$. Our results imply that much more rapid extinction of COVID is possible by combining social distancing with CT-scans and contact tracing.<br />Comment: 6 pages, 14 figures

Details

Database :
arXiv
Publication Type :
Report
Accession number :
edsarx.2006.02140
Document Type :
Working Paper