Influenza A, B Rapid

CPT Code(s):
87804

Turnaround Time:
2 hours

Specimen Requirements

Preferred Specimen:
Swab

Minimum Volume:
1 swab

Transport Container:
Viral Transport Media Tube (with NPS or Nasal Swab)

Transport Temperature:
Room Temperature

Collection Instructions:
Nasal or Nasopharyngeal Swab (NPS) collected according to standard technique and immediately placed in 1 - 3 mL of transport media

Rejection Criteria:
Bacterial swab specimen; specimen received in grossly leaking transport container; dry specimen; specimen received in expired transport media or incorrect transport device; inappropriate specimen transport conditions; specimen received after prolonged delay in transport; specimen stored or transported at room temperature; wooden shaft swab in transport device; unlabeled specimen or name discrepancy between specimen and request label

Stability Criteria

Room Temperature:
24 hours

Refrigerated:
48 hours

Frozen:
Unacceptable

Clinical Significance

The Influenza A&B Rapid Screen holds specific clinical significance and diagnostic use in the rapid detection of influenza A and B viruses in a patient. It is a point-of-care test that provides quick results, usually within minutes, allowing for timely diagnosis and appropriate management of influenza infections.

The specific clinical significance and diagnostic use of the Influenza A&B Rapid Screen include:

1. Early Detection and Diagnosis: The test is highly effective in detecting influenza A and B viruses during the early stages of infection. It helps healthcare providers quickly identify the presence of the influenza virus in patients presenting with flu-like symptoms, such as fever, cough, sore throat, and body aches.

2. Rapid Decision Making: The rapid results obtained from the Influenza A&B Rapid Screen enable healthcare providers to make timely decisions regarding patient management. Positive results can prompt immediate treatment initiation, infection control measures, and appropriate patient counseling.

3. Infection Control Measures: Rapid identification of influenza A and B viruses allows healthcare facilities to implement infection control measures promptly, reducing the risk of transmission to other patients, visitors, and healthcare workers. This is particularly important during influenza outbreaks or in settings with high-risk populations, such as hospitals, nursing homes, and schools.

4. Treatment Optimization: The Influenza A&B Rapid Screen helps guide appropriate antiviral treatment decisions. For patients with positive results, timely initiation of antiviral therapy, such as neuraminidase inhibitors, can help reduce the severity and duration of symptoms, prevent complications, and minimize the risk of influenza-related hospitalizations.

5. Differential Diagnosis: The test aids in differentiating influenza from other respiratory infections with similar symptoms. By quickly ruling out influenza, healthcare providers can focus on alternative diagnoses and avoid unnecessary use of antibiotics, which are ineffective against viral infections.

It is important to note that the Influenza A&B Rapid Screen has a limited sensitivity compared to laboratory-based molecular tests, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Therefore, negative results from the rapid test should be interpreted cautiously, and confirmatory testing may be necessary in certain situations.

In summary, the Influenza A&B Rapid Screen is specifically used for the rapid detection and diagnosis of influenza A and B viruses. It enables early identification, prompt decision making, implementation of infection control measures, optimization of treatment, and differentiation from other respiratory infections. While confirmatory testing may be required in some cases, the rapid test provides valuable information for timely management of influenza infections and appropriate patient care.