The WHO said it right when the pandemic began spreading... "test, test, test". The need for widespread testing for COVID19 isn't limited to nose swabs alone. It also applies to using radiology when PCR tests fail. 

PCR tests are among the most widely used tests to detect COVID19. These tests are used to detect the presence of antigens (whose presence triggers an immune response) as opposed to antibodies. By detecting the viral RNA, which are present in the body before antibodies get created or disease symptoms persist, these tests can detect if a person has a virus rather early on. Despite its widespread use to detect COVID19, these tests are labour intensive and generate upto 30% false negatives. Symptomatic patients, who have tested negative on a PCR test, are made to wait around 2-3 days before being administered a second PCR test.

For the interim, radiology could be a viable substitute for the second PCR test, leading to faster diagnosis , substantial savings and lesser chances of community spread by false negatives. A combination of PCR and radiology screening possess a high level of sensitivity, since COVID19-like changes start appearing on chest X-rays and chest CTs even before PCR has enough of a viral load to deliver a positive result. Patients showing symptoms, but with a negative PCR can be screened through radiology, which can help with making a decision on keeping the patient in the hospital or sending them to home quarantine. This will save many PCR tests and will open up resources in hospitals only for those who really have COVID19. 

This is where Bangalore-based radiology startup 5C Network hopes to make a substantial impact. The company makes radiology more accessible using technology, by allowing hospitals and diagnostic centres to directly upload scans to its cloud where 5C Network’s proprietary AI algorithm extracts data and analyses the scans, providing all the necessary information to the specialist. Given the low number of radiologists in India - 1 for every 100,000 – this solution improves the level of care to critical patients by providing the data in a matter of minutes to radiologists.

This solution is particularly useful now, when hospitals across the country are grappling with the surge in COVID19 cases. Kalyan Sivasailam, cofounder of 5C Network says, "Radiology will be the primary tool to monitor the extent and progression of the disease in confirmed patients. Using a Chest Xray or a Chest CT, hospitals can take decisions on medication and prognosis, and allocate resources accordingly. Radiology will be a force multiplier and a massive cost-saver in the fight against COVID19."

The solution provided by 5C Network is fast and scalable as it offers Remote Radiology support and real-time analysis of reports by multiple experts who are part of the COVID19 Radiology Response Team.

One of the key reasons Kalyan started 5C Network along with cofounder Syed Ahmed was when the duo realised that delayed and incorrect diagnosis is prevalent. The aim of advanced forms of diagnosis is to help doctors take better decisions on treatment protocols. But when diagnosis is late or incorrect, the purpose of the whole exercise is defeated. "We realised the pitfalls in the current system and how technology could build a better diagnostic system," says Kalyan. 

With a network of more than 270 radiologists, connected to more than 500 hospitals across India, 5C Network is India's largest teleradiology network. The company's solutions are diagnosing more than 75,000 patients every month. "We are already supporting our clients with diagnosis and suggested action plan for those suspected with COVID19, and giving a prognosis for people who are COVID19-positive. We have screened over 40 patients for our clients across the country. We are also working to detect Peripheral Ground Glass Opacities on CT, which is a telltale sign of Viral Pneumonia and could point to COVID19." 

With COVID19 bringing about an immense amount of pressure on healthcare systems worldover, technology assisted healthcare solutions are being heralded as the saviour. Kalyan believes healthcare providers across India and the world will gravitate more towards online healthcare solutions. They would expect the same, sometimes even better levels of service compared to when possessed these capabilities in-house. Healthtech players could leverage technology to deliver a better service than what providers had. The fact that healthtech players can introduce new business models (such as converting fixed to direct costs) will definitely be an advantage for providers. When it comes to 5C, the platform can provide the same quality of diagnostics expected at India's top hospitals in the remotest part of the country. 

COVID19 has fueled the explosive growth for telehealth. This can be further divided into two parts - telediagnosis and teleconsultations. Generally, telemedicine is used as a synonym for teleconsultations. While teleconsultations will pick up, they will not replace doctor visits. However, telediagnosis is ripe for explosion. More and more radiologists interested in platforms like 5C Network as their primary source of income as it is safer, more convenient and has superior experience enhanced by AI. Kalyan says his company is leveraging this change in behaviour by doubling down on our commitment to our clients across the country that we will always be there for them 24x7x365, in good times and bad. 

5C Network is currently part of the GE Edison [X] cohort, with five other startups, most of whom are focused on utilising AI to combat COVID19. Kalyan says, "The GE team has been amazing, and we have had access to decision makers on ground and those at the very top, which has allowed us to build effective go-to-market strategies for new products and features. We are very excited about what we are doing with GE's Edison platform."