How To Get Tested For The Flu

Will My Health Care Provider Test Me For Flu If I Have Flu

While your doctor may test you for flu, not everyone who goes to the doctor with flu-like symptoms will be tested. After evaluating you, your doctor may choose to diagnose you with flu without the need for testing based on your symptoms and his or her own clinical judgement.

Please visit diagnosing flu for more information.

Can I Still Get The Flu If I’ve Had The Vaccine

Yes, it is possible to get the flu after being vaccinated since no vaccine is 100% effective. However, if you get the flu after being vaccinated, it is usually a milder illness with a quicker recovery. It also takes a few weeks after vaccination before antibodies are made to the vaccine that can provide protection. Occasionally, a new strain circulates that is not in the current vaccine, so you would not be protected against infection with that strain of the virus.

What Increases Your Risk

Anyone exposed to an influenza virus can become infected. These viruses are contagious and spread easily among people in groups, such as in nursing homes, hospitals, shelters, schools, and day cares. Working, visiting, or living in any of these areas increases your risk of getting the flu.

The risk of having severe symptoms and is higher for:

• Children younger than 2 years of age.
• Adults age 65 and older.
• Pregnant women.
• People who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , other lung diseases, or heart failure.
• People who have a medical condition or who are using a medicine that .

Also Check: Orange Juice Good For Cold And Flu

Where To Get Rapid Flu Strep & Mono Tests

When you or someone in your family has fallen ill, you want to start the healing process as soon as possible. Count on a FastMed clinic for rapid flu, strep, and mono tests. At our medical clinic, qualified healthcare professionals will treat you right away. You dont have to wait for an appointment with your primary care provider or face the expense of an emergency department visit. Get prompt and affordable testing and treatment 7 days a week, 365 days a year at FastMed.

How The Combination Test Kit Works

The Pixel by Labcorp kit allows people to test for the flu and COVID-19 at the same time. It involves using a short nasal swab thats inserted into the lower nostril. Once the sample is taken, its placed into a prepaid envelope and shipped to a Labcorp faciltiy.

Test results are available between one to two days after the company receives the collection kit and, in most instances, theyre available a day after the kit is received. Results can be viewed through the patients Pixel by Labcorp account and, if it was ordered by a doctor, they will be available through the patient portal and Labcorp Patient app.

Labcorp says the test kit will be available at no upfront cost to people who meet the clinical guidelines, which can include:

• Experiencing symptoms
• Being exposed to someone with COVID-19
• Being asked to be tested by a healthcare provider

Recommended Reading: What Age Does Cvs Give Flu Shots

Can I Test Negative And Still Have The Flu

Yes. Influenza tests may not detect every case of the flu. Rapid antigen tests generally detect 50-70% of influenza cases, while molecular tests detect 66%-100% of cases, depending on the test used. A negative result may mean that the test is not detecting the influenza strain or that there is not sufficient virus in the sample to allow it to be detected. Also, new strains of influenza may be present in the sample that tests cannot reliably detect.

Should I Get A Flu Shot

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months old and older get a flu shot each season. In particular, people who are at high risk of complications from the flu should receive the vaccine. These include young children, the elderly, residents of nursing home and other long-term care facilities, pregnant women, and people with pre-existing conditions such as asthma, COPD, heart disease, and liver or kidney disorders.

Also Check: Over The Counter Flu Drugs

Flu Testing And Diagnosis

Influenza is a viral respiratory illness that affectsmillions of people each year.

Symptoms can include fever, cough, stuffy or runny nose, sorethroat, headache, chills and fatigue. A flu test is not always neededto diagnose the flu. However, in some cases, your health careprovider may need to confirm if you have the flu, so they mayrecommend testing.

What Is Strep Throat

Strep throat is a painful and contagious bacterial infection of the tonsils and the throat. Symptoms generally include sore throat, red and swollen tonsils, a fever, and swollen lymph nodes, but sometimes include abdominal pain and headache. Persons with strep throat can be contagious for up to two weeks after falling ill, but can sometimes return to their normal schedule after a couple days.

You May Like: Flu Shot During First Trimester

Other Ways To Reduce Your Risk For The Flu Or Flu Complications

Increase your chance of staying healthy by:

• often, especially during winter months when the flu is most common.
• Keeping your hands away from your nose, eyes, and mouth. Viruses are most likely to enter your body through these areas.
• Eating a healthy and .
• Getting regular exercise.
• Not smoking. Smoking irritates the lining of your nose, sinuses, and lungs, which may make you susceptible to complications of the flu.

How Accurate Is A Rapid Flu Test

A rapid antigen flu test is the least accurate type of flu test. They have moderate sensitivity and high specificity.

Sensitivity refers to a test’s ability to determine that you have a disease or illness youre positive for the illness. The specificity of a test is its ability to determine that you dont have a disease or illness youre negative for the illness.

A highly sensitive test means that there are few false-negative results, meaning fewer cases of illness are missed. Since a rapid flu test has moderate sensitivity, its more likely that itll have a false-negative result and miss positive cases. High specificity means that false-positive results are rare.

Recommended Reading: What To Take With Elderberry For Flu

What Happens If Youre Diagnosed With The Flu

If the flu virus is found early, your healthcare provider can prescribe antiviral medication right away. If you get diagnosed within two days after symptoms show up, these antiviral drugs can ease flu symptoms and shorten the illness.

Two days after the onset of symptoms, however, the antiviral medications wont work as well. In these cases, a healthcare provider might prescribe rest, fluids and over-the-counter remedies.

A flu test can also help your healthcare provider rule out giving you antibiotics, which wont work on a viral infection like the flu.

Testing can help healthcare providers reduce the spread of flu. Older adults or patients at high risk for flu should get tested immediately after suffering flu-like symptoms.

Flu tests can also help determine whether a flu outbreak is possible, especially in nursing homes and schools.

I’ve Heard Rapid Tests Don’t Work On Omicron So What’s The Use

It’s not entirely clear yet why the rapid tests don’t seem to pick up Omicron as effectively as they picked up earlier variants.

Barrett said it is too early to know whether it is the variant itself that is more difficult to pick up, or whether there is less viral load to detect because people getting sick have some level of immunity from vaccination or previous infection.

But there are ways to make the test more effective.

First, test more often.

“Testing every 24 hours while you’re symptomatic,” said Mithani.

“For at least for every single day that you’re symptomatic, I would test every day if you have access to that number of rapid tests. If not, then you can stretch it out every one to two, or one to three days, just to ration tests a little bit.”

Second, go beyond your nose.

“Swab both your throat and your nose to improve the sensitivity or the accuracy of the test,” said Mithani.

She advises swabbing your throat first, around where your tonsils are and where the uvula is in the middle.

“Swab it aggressively,” she said, “and then swab both of your nostrils.”

Pirzada said you can swab your cheek, too, in between doing your throat and nose.

That said, he points out some rapid tests have been found to perform better than others. And all of the doctors agreed that just because you test negative, that does not mean you don’t have COVID.

“As soon as you develop any cold-like symptoms, that’s a sign that you might have it,” said Pirzada.

Recommended Reading: Mucinex Fast Acting Cold And Flu

Polymerase Chain Reaction And Viral Culture Testing

Laboratories in Massachusetts report all positive influenza laboratory tests to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health , including viral culture and PCR.

Testing at the State Public Health Laboratory: As part of a more comprehensive respiratory surveillance initiative, MA SPHL performs testing to confirm typing and subtyping of circulating influenza viruses, followed by testing of influenza and SARS-CoV-2 negative samples for the evidence of adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus A/B, parainfluenza virus types 1-4 , coronavirus HKU1, OC43, NL63, 229E, human metapneumovirus , and rhinovirus/enterovirus , using a multiplex PCR respiratory viral panel.

What Do The Results Mean

A positive result means you may have the flu. Your health care provider may prescribe medicine to help prevent flu complications. A negative result means you likely don’t have the flu, and that some other virus is probably causing your symptoms. Your health care provider may order more tests before making a diagnosis. If you have questions about your results, talk to your health care provider.

Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results.

You May Like: Can The Flu Shot Cause Shoulder Pain

How Do I Know If I Need To Get A Flu Test

If you experience any of the following flu symptoms, it might be a good idea to get a flu test:

• Fever or feeling like you have a fever

• Chills

• A runny or stuffy nose

• Muscle pain

• Feeling tired

• Vomiting or diarrhea more common in kids than adults

Its important to know that everyones flu symptoms are different. You may have some or all of these. But typically, flu symptoms come on quickly .

Similarities Between The Symptoms Of The Flu And Covid

The flu and COVID-19 are different viruses. They’re very contagious and have similar symptoms. This can make it hard to tell the difference between the flu and COVID-19 when symptoms appear.

If you start to develop symptoms, follow the same precautions taken for COVID-19.

This year is more important than ever for everyone 6 months and older to get the flu shot. This will help prevent the flu and flu-related complications. Preventing the flu will also help reduce stress on the health care system during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recommended Reading: Tylenol Cold Flu And Cough

Think You Might Have The Flu Heres What To Do

Feeling achy? Tired? Feverish? Wondering if you have the flu or even something else?

If youre feeling a little off this season, then you may be considering a sick visit to your neighborhood MinuteClinic®. Seeking care for your flu-like symptoms is more important than ever, especially as we get closer to peak flu season, which typically hits the U.S. in February. Unfortunately, this years flu season is once again complicated by the presence of COVID-19. So, if youre feeling a little off, you may be wondering, Do I have the flu?, making it even more important to get checked, tested and treated as soon as you start to feel symptoms.

Can You Be Tested For Covid

Currently, the FDA has authorized several tests that have the ability to detect multiple viruses at the same time. Instead of taking separate tests for each virus, this option allows you to take just one test to help identify what is potentially causing your infection. Some of these tests can look for flu viruses, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus , and several other respiratory infections. Others only test for flu viruses and COVID-19.

If you are looking for a testing site or provider, you can search for one here or access one online here.

Read Also: Flu Medicine Safe For High Blood Pressure

What Factors Can Influence Results Of Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Tests

Many factors can influence the accuracy of RIDTs, including:

• Clinical signs and symptoms consistent with the flu
• Prevalence of influenza infection in the population tested
• Time from illness onset to collection of respiratory specimens for testing
• Type of respiratory specimen tested
• Accuracy of the test compared to a reference test

What Precautions Can I Take Against The Flu

Along with getting vaccinated against the flu, the precautions are very similar to the precautions we use against COVID.

“I think the safest way to go if you’re feeling crook is to stay away from other people while we are actively sick,” says University of Queensland virologist Ian Mackay.

“That’s kind of what our body is telling us when we’ve got those symptoms, it’s saying ‘you know what, rest up now.'”

Wearing a mask, social distancing, getting vaccinated and keeping away from workplaces while unwell will stop you spreading it on to others.

“It’s really important you don’t go spreading it to others, by transmitting it around the network because we lose people from work and sometimes people don’t have sick leave and that’s a big deal,” Dr Mackay says.

Also Check: Tylenol Cold And Flu Severe Dosage By Weight

Flu Treatments Are More Effective Than Many People Think

Theres still a widely held belief that seeing the doctor is pointless when you have the flu. This belief has been perpetuated by the fact that in most cases, there isnt a lot doctors can do about viral infections, and influenza is viral. But it can be treated.

• peramivir
• baloxavir

These drugs have been shown to lessen length of illness but also decrease complications, including ear infection, respiratory complications, and hospitalization, she said.

Rapid Diagnostic Test Helps Stop The Spread Of Flu At Nuh

In the last week alone, over 100 cases of flu have been confirmed at Queens Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital.

Symptoms of flu include a fever, shortness of breath and extreme tiredness. The virus spreads easily through coughs and sneezes, so in areas with high footfall such as a hospital flu can pass easily from person to person.

Each year, over 8,000 people are killed by the flu virus in the UK, with the most vulnerable: the elderly, young children and the sick, most at risk.Over 500 patients were admitted to our hospitals with flu last year. So far this year, there has been 357 cases of Influenza A detected on our wards , however 2018 was a particularly heavy year for flu, and the flu season is yet to peak.

Diagnosing and treating flu causes difficulties for clinical staff. When patients present with symptoms, a throat swab is taken, which is sent to the microbiology lab for analysis before a diagnosis report is generated.

The total end-to-end diagnosis process can take over 36 hours for a positive or negative result, which has implications for the clinicians ability to isolate and treat patients with flu within a quick timeframe.

Patients waiting for a flu diagnosis are sometimes given unnecessary antibiotics to treat the symptoms, rather than antivirals which are effective in treating the flu virus.

In some cases, by the time a positive flu diagnosis has been confirmed, the patient has already been discharged and no further treatment is possible.

Don’t Miss: How Old Is The Flu Vaccine

Early Treatment Is Most Effective

If youre still inclined to wait out your illness, you may want to consider the fact that treatment only works for the flu if given early.

Influenza treatment is only helpful if given within the first 48 hours of symptoms, Moore said. If people with early flu-like symptoms decide to wait before seeing a doctor, they may miss their window for treatment.

Considering symptoms of the flu can persist for up to 2 weeks for some people, catching the flu can mean a lot of missed time from school and/or work, in addition to the risk of developing further complications.

Antivirals have been found to reduce the duration of illness by 1/2 to 1 1/2 days when given within the first 48 hours.

Thats why Moore insists that seeing your doctor early can have an economic benefit.

This means people can get back to work sooner, or have their child miss one less day of school, he said.

Antivirals can also be prescribed to other members of your family if one of you is diagnosed with the flu. Starting treatment after exposure and before symptoms begin has been found to be 70 to 90 percent effective at preventing the flu altogether.

For families with many children who tend to pass illnesses around, this is one option that could save a lot of time off school and work. And for those who have compromised immune systems or are at greater risk of developing flu complications, having a preventative option after known exposure could actually be lifesaving.

How To Know If You Have The Flu

If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, it is first and foremost important to test for COVID-19. Especially as the new highly transmissible Omicron variant circulates, getting a COVID-19 diagnosis early will allow you to self-isolate and protect others from infection.

For a flu diagnosis, Schaffner recommends first reaching out to a primary care provider via a telehealth portal, email, or phone. Showing up to a doctors office or urgent care site puts others at risk of getting sick and it may be unnecessary unless youre experiencing a medical emergency.

Peter Chin-Hong, MD, professor of infectious diseases at University of California, San Francisco, recommends taking a flu test if you tested negative for COVID-19. While uncommon, its possible to be infected with both COVID-19 and flu at the same time.

I think a lot of people are stuck in limbo land with symptoms, Chin-Hong told Verywell. You keep doing a million BinaxNOW assays just because you want to convince yourself that you don’t have COVID.

Health providers can diagnose a case of the flu through a description of symptoms, a physical exam, or through a nasal or throat swab test.

There was an increase in the number of flu tests this year, driven in part by concern that this flu season would see a particularly high case rate, Chin-Hong said. In the last week of November, nearly 59,000 samples were tested for the flu, compared with 22,000 specimens during the same week in 2018.

Read Also: Can You Have The Flu And No Fever