Relationship Between the Results of Laboratory Tests, Lung CT Scan, and Real-time PCR in Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 Patients in Quchan, Iran

Objective:

 Due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 worldwide and the lack of a diagnostic method, there is a need to assess the association between the results of existing methods for rapid diagnosis. Therefore, this study aims to assess the relationship between the results of laboratory tests, CT scan, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients in Quchan, Iran.

Methods:

 This retrospective study was conducted on 221 suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients referred to a hospital in Quchan, Iran. The required information including the results of five blood tests, lung CT scan, and RT-PCR was extracted from the medical records of patients and was analyzed by descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and Cramér’s V statistic in SPSS software, version 19.

Results:

 The mean age of the subjects was 60±11.4 years, and 51.58% were female. Positive blood tests, lung CT scan and RT-PCR were reported in 37.1%, 66.5%, and 32.1%, respectively. It was reported that 76% of patients with positive RT-PCR also had a positive lung CT scan. However, it was not statistically significant based on the chi-square test results. There was a significant relationship between positive RT-PCR and positive blood tests (Cramér’s V=0.186) and between positive blood tests and CT scan ( Cramér’s V=0.231). There was no significant relationship between the positive results of the three diagnostic methods.

Conclusion:

 The sensitivity of lung CT scan to COVID-19 is higher. Due to the negative results of blood tests and RT-PCR in the early stage of the disease, lung CT scan for suspected cases and the repetition of blood tests and RT-PCR can help make a correct COVID-19 diagnosis.