COVID-19 Technical specifications for imaging devices: portable ultrasound; mobile radiographic digital equipment; computed tomography (CT) scanning system

Overview

In June 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a rapid advice guide on the use of medical imaging in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The guide makes recommendations for the use of chest imaging in the acute care of adult patients with suspected, probable or confirmed COVID-19, based on available evidence. The imaging modalities considered are ultrasound, radiography and computed tomography (CT), for use within the care pathway.

In view of the urgency to produce a complementary document of technical specifications of equipment to support the rapid advice guide, a working group was established with staff and consultants on imaging technologies from WHO and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The draft was sent to experts and nongovernmental organizations for comment and review.

The final document presented here considers the conditions of COVID-19 patients and the best types of technologies to address them. Nevertheless, these technologies can also be used as diagnostic imaging tools for many other health conditions and diseases. Therefore, the accessories and software packages listed in these specifications are detailed in order to have equipment that can be used not only for COVID-19 but for co-morbidities and for future use for other pathologies.