Chest X-rays Highly Predictive of Covid-19

A paper published in Radiology; Cardiothoracic Imaging reports on a study of 366 patients who had a clinical presentation suspicious for Covid-19.  Radiologists reviewed the patients' chest X-rays along with concurrent reverse polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)  virus tests.  The patients mean age was 52.7 (range 17-98 years). RT-PCR tests took an average of 2.5 days until a final diagnosis became available. Radiologists found characteristic X-ray pattern such as confluent, ground glass opacification in the mid and lower lung fields highly specific (96.6%) with a positive predictive value of (83.8%) for making the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 viral infection.