topic Re: Tests for flu? in Community Chat

Tests for flu?

millieshops — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 13:34:47 GMT

I’ve been listening to a Q & A session about Covid on my local news channel and there were several inquiries about how all the Covid testing results compare with those on flu testing.

I don’t believe I’ve ever heard about massive flu testing. Certainly never had one myself, not even the one year my flu was bad enough to send me to my doctor.. the only statistics I’ve ever seen for flu are the death numbers, not how many get it and recover

Re: Tests for flu?

50Mickey — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 13:56:17 GMT

As far as massive testing for the seasonal flu no. But if you are sick and have symptoms and can get to the Dr. or urgent care there is a rapid test. This is the only definitive way to determine if you have the flu. My husband and I both came down with the flu in January of 2018. We drug ourselves to the urgent care center and got a flu test. It was done the same way with a nasal swab. Not pleasant but not unbearable. Good thing is that we got tested within 48 hours of coming down with symptoms and we were given Tamiflu. We both had flu shots in Oct. of 2017 but that year the vaccine was not as effective as in previous years. We didn't know to ask for the senior shot. We do now.

Re: Tests for flu?

pigletsmom — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 13:59:35 GMT

The head of one of our hospitals was on the radio a while back and he said that early in the season they test but tend to stop basically because they know what it is. I think the testing is to see what strain it is if I'm remembering correctly.

Re: Tests for flu?

happycat — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 14:12:46 GMT

I don't remember there ever being massive flu tests either.

Re: Tests for flu?

wagirl — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 14:43:25 GMT

My dd was horriby sick a few years ago--had to take her to our primary dr and she got a flu test there that turned out negative--just a really bad cold. Have never been tested for the flu but then I haven't had the flu in over 40 years or more--had the Hong Kong flu is 1968---and maybe a few mild cases that I thought were just colds--but not a flu where I was down and out for days and days---been getting a flu shots all my life---

Re: Tests for flu?

shoesnbags — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 14:58:48 GMT

@millieshops

I've been tested for the flu at an Urgent Care before. In my case it was negative. The rapid flu test is very common around here, both in doctors' offices and at Urgent Care places. Edited to say, not mass testing just given to individuals.

Re: Tests for flu?

Kachina624 — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 15:18:17 GMT

I had the flu in 2003. Blood samples were sent to the state health department which confirmed it was indeed the flu. If it has to be done by blood test, that may be the reason there's no mass testing.

Re: Tests for flu?

CrazyDaisy — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 15:42:20 GMT

Flu tests are given only to those who go to a doctor for treatment as a diagnostic tool.

As far as I am award the flu test has never been used in the same way as the COVID tests have been. So there is no way to know how many people actually get and recover from the flu each year

Re: Tests for flu?

millieshops — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 16:18:06 GMT

@shoesnbags I'm assuming you had some symptoms and they wanted to know what to treat for? Is my assumption at all right?

I know they test for Covid whether we show symptoms or are asymptomatic now that there are enough tests available. I'm curious whether they test for flu the same way and I just never heard of it.

Re: Tests for flu?

SilleeMee — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 16:37:13 GMT

Rapid tests for the flu virus are not accurate. They often get reported as false negatives. The only definitive test is a cell culture and those are costly and take time...like about a week. I worked in a virology lab where those tests were done.

Re: Tests for flu?

suzyQ3 — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 16:36:51 GMT

It's an interesting question, given that we may be bombarded by both viruses. They share some symptoms but not all. I guess the wiser approach would be to test rule out Covid, since it is far more dangerous, and go from there.

Re: Tests for flu?

Zhills — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 18:58:12 GMT

There is a test for the influenza virus but I have never know of it being used for the general public. Only sick people in a Doctor's office or hospital.

Re: Tests for flu?

shoesnbags — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 19:46:55 GMT

@millieshops wrote:
@shoesnbags I'm assuming you had some symptoms and they wanted to know what to treat for? Is my assumption at all right?

I know they test for Covid whether we show symptoms or are asymptomatic now that there are enough tests available. I'm curious whether they test for flu the same way and I just never heard of it.

@millieshops

It was a few years ago, so I don't remember the details. Only that I showed up at an urgent care feeling lousy and they did a flu test and told me it was not the flu. And I've talked to many people over the last several years who have said they did or didn't have the flu, based on a test given at their doctor's office.

Re: Tests for flu?

SilleeMee — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 20:35:06 GMT

Bed-side or in-office flu tests are not accurate. They often miss detecting the virus in as many as 50%. Even when someone tests positive, those results are not accurate either. Clinicians are left with decisions based on symptoms, not test results. Definitive diagnosis of the flu is done with a cell culture which takes at least a week or more to get results from that.

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/diagnosis/clinician_guidance_ridt.htm

Re: Tests for flu?

tansy — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 21:13:25 GMT

Isn't the only reason to be tested quickly for the flu is to be prescribed Tamiflu in a timely manner?

Re: Tests for flu?

PA Mom-mom — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 21:15:10 GMT

@SilleeMee My son got very sick in late February 2020 and was tested for the flu and tested positive. He was miserable for 3 days and was actually offended, because he never gets sick! I couldn't believe they could actually tell it was the flu and even said it was Influenza B, or something like that. I've always wondered if it was actually Covid 19.

Re: Tests for flu?

SilleeMee — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 21:21:09 GMT

@tansy wrote:
Isn't the only reason to be tested quickly for the flu is to be prescribed Tamiflu in a timely manner?

Yes, exactly for that reason. Antiviral drugs are not withheld based on a negative rapid flu test and is administered based on symptoms and observance of community spread.

Rapid flu tests are done when an outbreak is suspected within public health situations such as an institution (nursing homes, hospitals) and in places like cruise ships, camps or schools. The rapid tests are used in places like that in order to determine if an outbreak has occurred.

All confirmed positive cases of flu are required to be reported to the appropriate health departments and are considered to be communicable disease and a public health threat.

Re: Tests for flu?

Stray — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 21:24:41 GMT

This year if you present in an ER with symptoms that could be Covid19 or Flu, since they are nearly the same, the flu test will rule out or confirm influenza so they would proceed to treat you for Covid19 if neg. and give you Tamiflu for a positive influenza test. Or you could test positive for both so you'd be treated for both flu and Covid. The two tests will help with diagnosis and proper treatment.

Re: Tests for flu?

SilleeMee — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 21:25:09 GMT

@PA Mom-mom wrote:
@SilleeMee My son got very sick in late February 2020 and was tested for the flu and tested positive. He was miserable for 3 days and was actually offended, because he never gets sick! I couldn't believe they could actually tell it was the flu and even said it was Influenza B, or something like that. I've always wondered if it was actually Covid 19.

@PA Mom-mom

If they did a rapid test on him, some of the tests can differentiate between the two flu strains. But even those results can be misleading b/c false positives can occur. Yes, I agree, he could have been infected with the covid virus at the same time.

Re: Tests for flu?

lovethgedress — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 21:25:56 GMT

I manage a microbiology lab. Most labs and hospital systems routinely offer Flu testing by PCR during flu season. The change from antigen tests to PCR occured with the last 5 or so years I'd say.

We have never offered flu by viral culture and have actually eliminated all viral culture in favor of PCR testing which is much faster and very accurrate. The one poster is correct in that flu antigen tests are very inaccurate so might as well flip a coin.

This year most labs are offering a flu covid combo pcr test. Both need to be tested so that the proper course of treatment can be determined. The testing that we use for STAT testing will produce a result in about 20 minutes.