Is it the flu or just a cold? Because both illnesses share a number of signs and symptoms (which can vary with age and existing medical conditions), making the right diagnosis isn’t always so simple. What’s more, the consequences of making the wrong diagnosis can be serious.
To help you determine which is which, a number of time-sensitive influenza testing options are available [9]:
Virus culture: Available in most hospitals, this is the standard test for flu. A nasal specimen is collected (ideally within the first 4 days of illness) and sent for culture, though sometimes the results may not be fast enough to help with clinical decisions, such as the need for antiviral drug treatment.
Immunofluorescence: Available in many hospitals, fluorescent antibody staining will usually give you test results in 2 to 4 hours.
Rapid diagnostic test: These tests are gaining popularity because they can provide results in approximately 30 minutes. Rapid tests could be the key diagnostic testing during a pandemic. [33]
Which test is best?
The decision to use antiviral medications should be based on clinical judgment when tests are not available. Physicians may supplement their clinical diagnoses of pandemic influenza with rapid tests. [34,35]
Early detection can save lives and prevent pandemics
Day to day management of seasonal flu aside, it’s equally important to keep your eyes open for the possibility of a highly pathogenic influenza virus. Because the virus (specifically type A) can abruptly shift antigens—essentially creating a new, potentially catastrophic virus—ongoing surveillance is a vital measure of pandemic preparedness. A study in the January 2002 Emerging Infectious Diseases showed that rapid diagnostic tests greatly increased the number of specimens submitted, enhancing the capacity to isolate a shifting influenza virus. [10]
