How To Diagnosis Influenza

Samples of fluids from your nose or throat can be tested for evidence of bird flu virus. This test involves swabbing the back of your nose or throat with a cotton swab.

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Rapid influenza diagnostic tests4 antigen detection a and b.

How to diagnosis influenza. During an influenza outbreak a positive rapid flu test is likely to indicate influenza infection. These samples must be taken within the first few days after symptoms appear. The diagnosis of influenza is generally made using clinical features alone when it is known to be circulating in the community for weekly influenza surveillance reports visit wwwgovuk.

He or she may use various tests to diagnose influenza. Polymerase chain reaction pcr testing is becoming more common in many hospitals and labs. To be sure that you have the flu your doctor may perform a rapid influenza diagnostics test.

Although flu tests can be useful some are undermined by the high rate of false negative results. Proper serological testing for diagnosis of influenza requires paired acute and convalescent sera collected 2 3 weeks apart with reliable testing at a limited number of public health or research laboratories to assess a 4 fold or greater rise in influenza virus strain specific antibodies. Rapid influenza diagnostic tests can detect influenza in under 30 minutes using swabs or samples of secretions taken from a patients nose or throat.

However these tests can yield false positive or false negative results and they may not be able to indicate which specific strain of flu the patient has. Results are usually available in about 15 minutes. Pcr testing is more sensitive than other tests and may be able to identify the influenza strain.

Also rapid tests appear to be better at detecting flu in children than adults. But they may want to give you a quick test to be sure the influenza virus is to blame. This test may be done while youre in your doctors office or in the hospital.

However rapid tests vary in their ability to detect flu viruses depending on the type of rapid test used and on the type of flu viruses circulating. A doctor can usually tell if you have the flu based on your symptoms especially if its during peak season. Np 5 swab aspirate or wash nasal swab aspirate or wash throat swab.

Rapid influenza tests can be run in the office and takes about 15 minutes to get results. The test typically involves a nasal or throat culture to determine whether influenza a or influenza b is present.