Published 28 September 2026. Product facts were checked against GE HealthCare documentation on 28 September 2026. Written by the Medical Outfitters sales and field engineering team.
A refurbished GE LightSpeed CT costs $85,000 to $325,000 in 2026, delivered, installed and warrantied, depending on which LightSpeed it is. A LightSpeed 16 sits at $95,000 to $160,000 and a 64-slice LightSpeed VCT at $175,000 to $325,000; the 4 and 8-slice builds, the Pro 32 and the RT16 simulator fill in the ladder. LightSpeed is a family, not a model, and the configuration decides the price, which is why our CT scanner cost guide bands it by slice count.
This guide covers what the LightSpeed family is, every configuration GE sold, our 2026 range by configuration, what moves a LightSpeed quote, what to check on a scanner that may be fifteen years old, who each configuration suits against the Optima CT660 and the BrightSpeed, and how to buy one through MO Select. Specifications are GE’s published figures, checked 28 September 2026.
What Is the GE LightSpeed CT?
GE LightSpeed is a family of CT scanners rather than one model. GE sold it from the late 1990s to the early 2010s in configurations from 4 slices (LightSpeed Plus and QX/i) through 8 (LightSpeed Ultra), 16 (LightSpeed 16, Pro 16 and Xtra) and 32 (Pro 32) to the 64-slice LightSpeed VCT and VCT XT, plus the LightSpeed RT and RT16 radiation therapy simulators with a wide bore and a flat couch. It was the most widely installed CT platform of its era, which is why refurbished LightSpeed systems are so common and so well supported.
The LightSpeed VCT is the one most buyers mean. It covers 40 mm per rotation with 64 slices at 0.625 mm, rotates in 0.35 seconds and has a 70 cm gantry, which put cardiac and coronary CT angiography within reach of community hospitals when it launched in 2004. The 16-slice LightSpeed 16 rotates in 0.5 seconds and covers routine head, chest, abdomen and orthopaedic work; the Pro 32 sits between them; and the VCT XT is the later VCT build with the updated console and dose options.
GE replaced the family with the Optima CT660, the Discovery CT750 HD and the Revolution line, so every LightSpeed is a refurbished purchase now. Tube condition, detector condition and the installed options (ASiR iterative reconstruction was sold as a licence on the later VCT XT) decide the value more than the model name does.
| Specification | LightSpeed |
|---|---|
| Slice configurations | 4 (Plus, QX/i); 8 (Ultra); 16 (16, Pro 16, Xtra); 32 (Pro 32); 64 (VCT, VCT XT) |
| Rotation | 0.35 s on the VCT; 0.5 s on the LightSpeed 16 |
| Detector coverage | 40 mm on the VCT (64 x 0.625 mm) |
| Gantry aperture | 70 cm; wide bore on the RT and RT16 simulators |
| Dose | ASiR iterative reconstruction as a licensed option on later VCT XT builds |
| Cardiac | ECG modulation and cardiac packages on the VCT |
| RT16 | Radiation therapy simulator with flat couch and wide bore |
| Successors | Optima CT660, Discovery CT750 HD, Revolution family |
Source: GE HealthCare LightSpeed VCT and LightSpeed 16 technical data, checked 28 September 2026. Configuration on a specific unit is confirmed from its system data before we quote.
LightSpeed Configurations
The name on the gantry is the first question. These are the configurations GE sold and what each one is for.
| Configuration | What it is | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| LightSpeed Plus, QX/i (4 slice) | The earliest builds | Head and routine body imaging at the lowest price; parts and consoles are ageing |
| LightSpeed Ultra (8 slice) | 8 slices per rotation | Routine general imaging at a small site |
| LightSpeed 16, Pro 16, Xtra (16 slice) | 16 slices, 0.5 s rotation | Head, chest, abdomen, spine and orthopaedic work; the volume configuration |
| LightSpeed Pro 32 (32 slice) | 32 slices | Faster coverage for busier general sites; less common |
| LightSpeed VCT, VCT XT (64 slice) | 64 x 0.625 mm, 40 mm coverage, 0.35 s; the XT adds the later console and dose options | Cardiac, CT angiography and high-volume general imaging |
| LightSpeed RT, RT16 | Radiation therapy simulators with flat couch and wide bore | Treatment planning for oncology departments |
Slice count, console generation and installed options are confirmed per unit before we quote, because the same name was built and upgraded in different ways over a decade.
How Much Does a GE LightSpeed CT Cost?
The ranges below are Medical Outfitters ranges for a refurbished LightSpeed delivered, installed and warrantied, positioned in the 16, 32 and 64-slice bands of our CT scanner cost guide. Headline prices published elsewhere are often for the equipment alone, before de-installation, rigging, installation and current tariffs.
| Configuration | Medical Outfitters range, 2026 | What moves it |
|---|---|---|
| LightSpeed Plus, QX/i or Ultra (4 or 8 slice) | $85,000 to $110,000 | Age, tube and console generation |
| LightSpeed 16, Pro 16 or Xtra | $95,000 to $160,000 | Tube condition, options, console |
| LightSpeed Pro 32 | $150,000 to $225,000 | Tube condition and options |
| LightSpeed VCT or VCT XT (64 slice) | $175,000 to $325,000 | Tube, cardiac package, ASiR licence, XT console |
| LightSpeed RT16 simulator | $120,000 to $185,000 | Couch, laser and planning software |
| New 64-slice CT through GE (not sold by Medical Outfitters) | $625,000 to $975,000 | The new 64-slice band from our CT guide, for comparison |
| New 64 to 128-slice CT sold by Medical Outfitters (Fujifilm SCENARIA View, authorized dealer) | $625,000 to $975,000 | Our new alternative, quoted with delivery and installation |
How Medical Outfitters sells the LightSpeed. Refurbished, through MO Select, our in-house refurbishment program: each unit is tested against the GE specification, delivered, installed by our own rigging and engineering team and covered by a written warranty. We do not sell GE systems new; the new figures in the table are for comparison. New systems we sell as an authorized dealer are the Fujifilm FCT iStream 128, SCENARIA View (64 to 128 slice, with a Focus Edition for cardiology) and Supria 64/128. Current availability is on the product page. Availability of any specific model, year or configuration is subject to supply at the time of your request, and every purchase is governed by the written quote and sales agreement.
The same question arrives in many forms: GE LightSpeed CT price, LightSpeed VCT cost, GE LightSpeed 16 for sale, used LightSpeed VCT 64 price, how much does a LightSpeed cost. They all resolve to the table above. Tell us the configuration and the room and the quote writes itself. Request a LightSpeed quote »
What Moves the Price of a LightSpeed
Two quotes for the same LightSpeed can differ by a whole configuration. These are the lines that move the price, roughly in order of impact.
- Configuration The slice count sets the band: 4 and 8-slice at the bottom, VCT 64 at the top
- Tube condition The single largest cost item on a used CT; a new or low-hour tube moves the price by tens of thousands
- Options and licences Cardiac packages and the ASiR licence on the VCT XT raise the price
- Console generation A later console with current software is worth paying for
- Detector condition Calibrated, with no dead channels, or a repair line
- Warranty and tube coverage Our range includes the MO Select warranty with the tube position stated
What to Check Before You Buy a Used LightSpeed
A used LightSpeed is bought on its records. These are the checks our engineers run and the questions to put to any seller before you sign.
- Exact configuration: Confirm the model, slice count and console from the system data, not from the listing; a LightSpeed 16 and a LightSpeed VCT are different purchases with the same badge.
- Tube hours and scan seconds: Ask for the tube’s install date, scan seconds and arc history. It is the most expensive part on the system and the one most likely to fail first.
- Detector calibration: Ask for the last calibration and a phantom image; dead detector channels show up as ring artefacts.
- Options and licences: Cardiac gating, ASiR and the 3D packages are licensed; get the installed list in writing.
- Console and software: Older consoles run on dated hardware. Confirm the version, the DICOM connectivity and whether console spares exist.
- Gantry and table: Slip ring, high-voltage tank, table drive and weight rating; ask what has been replaced.
- Support horizon: Confirm GE’s support position and the independent parts route for the exact model; the earliest builds are the hardest to keep running.
Who the LightSpeed Suits, and the Alternatives
The right LightSpeed follows the case mix: routine work is well served by 8 or 16 slices; cardiac and vascular work needs the VCT.
- Urgent care, orthopaedic and outpatient sites that need a dependable 16-slice at the lowest installed price
- Community hospitals that want 64-slice cardiac capability from a proven platform
- Oncology departments that need a simulator with a flat couch (RT16)
- GE sites that want one service ecosystem across CT and MRI
Alternatives to the LightSpeed
| Model | Why you would choose it instead |
|---|---|
| GE Optima CT660 | The 64-slice successor: smaller footprint, lower power, ASiR built in; more money |
| GE BrightSpeed | The compact 4, 8 and 16-slice family for rooms that will not take a LightSpeed |
| GE Revolution family | GE’s current platform, from the 64-slice EVO to the 256-slice Revolution CT |
| Toshiba and Canon Aquilion | The 64-row Aquilion 64 and 80-row Prime as used-market alternatives |
How to Buy a LightSpeed
- Send the room, the power supply and the case mix. Room dimensions, shielding, the electrical supply and the exams you run decide the slice count before the model does.
- Choose the configuration. Slice count, tube, dose-reduction and cardiac licences and console generation, matched to the case mix.
- Get the tube position in writing. Tube install date, scan seconds and the coverage terms are the single largest cost item on a used CT, so we state them on the quote.
- Survey the site. Shielding, power, HVAC and the rigging route, before the scanner is bought.
- Schedule the de-installation and rigging. Transport and installation are in our price; the schedule is agreed with your facilities team.
- Agree the warranty and service term. The MO Select warranty is written, with the tube coverage stated; a service contract for the years after it is quoted alongside.
- Applications training and go-live. Protocol set-up, physicist acceptance testing and technologist training on site.
We quote within one business day and deliver, install, train and support across the United States, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean through an ISO 13485:2016 certified quality system. Request a LightSpeed quote » Current availability is on the MO Select LightSpeed product page.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much does a GE LightSpeed CT cost?
- A refurbished GE LightSpeed costs $85,000 to $325,000 in 2026 delivered, installed and warrantied: $85,000 to $110,000 for a 4 or 8-slice build, $95,000 to $160,000 for a LightSpeed 16, $150,000 to $225,000 for a Pro 32, $175,000 to $325,000 for a 64-slice VCT or VCT XT and $120,000 to $185,000 for an RT16 simulator.
- Which LightSpeed do I need?
- Routine head, chest, abdomen and orthopaedic work is well served by a LightSpeed 16. Cardiac and CT angiography need the 64-slice VCT for its 40 mm coverage and 0.35-second rotation. The RT16 is a treatment-planning simulator, not a diagnostic scanner.
- What is the difference between the LightSpeed VCT and the VCT XT?
- The same 64-slice detector and gantry. The XT is the later build with the updated console, newer software and the dose-reduction options, including the ASiR licence, which is why it costs more on the used market.
- Is a LightSpeed VCT still good enough for cardiac CT?
- For coronary CT angiography at controlled heart rates, yes; it was the platform that made cardiac CT routine. Newer scanners add wider coverage and faster rotation for high heart rates and single-beat imaging, at several times the price.
- What is the LightSpeed RT16?
- The radiation therapy simulator version of the LightSpeed 16, with a flat couch and a wide bore for treatment-planning positioning rather than diagnostic imaging.
- Is the LightSpeed still supported?
- The installed base is so large that parts and engineers remain plentiful, and Medical Outfitters services the family. Confirm GE’s support position for the exact model and console before you buy the earliest 4-slice builds.
- Does Medical Outfitters sell the GE LightSpeed?
- Yes. We supply LightSpeed systems across the range refurbished through MO Select, fully tested with the tube position stated on the quote, delivered, installed by our own engineers and covered by a written warranty, across the United States, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. The product page carries the quote form.
Medical Outfitters sells new Fujifilm, Esaote and Mammotome systems as an authorized dealer and certified refurbished GE and Siemens systems through MO Select, with delivery and installation included in every quote. Browse CT scanners for sale, browse used and refurbished MRI machines for sale and browse X-ray machines for sale; every listing shows the model, condition and availability with a quote form.
Tell us the configuration, the room and the case mix. Medical Outfitters returns the LightSpeed delivered, installed and warrantied as one written quote. Serving the US, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean.
