Abstract
This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (diagnostic). The objectives are as follows: The primary objective is to determine the diagnostic accuracy of chest imaging (computed tomography (CT), chest X‐ray and ultrasound) in the evaluation of people suspected to have COVID‐19. This may also refer to specific signs, such as a particular CT finding. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: 1. To evaluate whether these imaging tests are sufficiently accurate to rule out COVID‐19 (main measure of interest will be the negative predictive value). 2. To evaluate the rate of positive imaging in patients with initial RT‐PCR negative results who have a positive result on a follow‐up RT‐PCR test. 3. To determine if there is an association between number of days after symptom onset, symptom severity and the findings on chest imaging for patients with COVID‐19. 4. To determine the rate of discrepancy or agreement between CT, chest X‐ray and ultrasound findings. 5. To evaluate for ‘threshold’ effects of imaging findings of COVID‐19 and accuracy measures. 6. To determine the rate of alternative diagnoses identified by chest imaging.