Influenza diagnostic tests for respiratory specimens^[1,2]

Test	Time to results	Comments
Recommended tests
Conventional molecular assays, including real-time RT-PCR and multiplex PCR (nucleic acid detection)	1 to 8 hours	High sensitivity and very high specificity Can differentiate influenza A and B, as well as influenza A subtypes Multiplex PCR detects other respiratory viruses and bacterial pathogens
Rapid molecular assays (nucleic acid detection)	15 to 30 minutes	High sensitivity and specificity Can differentiate influenza A and B, but cannot not differentiate influenza A subtypes
Additional tests
Rapid influenza diagnostic tests (antigen detection)	<15 minutes	Low to moderate sensitivity; high specificity
Direct and indirect immunofluorescence (antigen detection)	1 to 4 hours	Moderately high sensitivity; high specificity
Viral culture
Shell viral culture	1 to 3 days	Moderately high sensitivity; highest specificity Not useful for timely clinical management Used for public health surveillance
Conventional culture	3 to 10 days

Refer to UpToDate content on diagnosis of influenza in adults and children for additional details about the choice and interpretation of influenza tests. Refer to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention information on influenza testing methods for additional details.

RT-PCR: reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.

References:

Uyeki TM, Bernstein HH, Bradley JS, et al. Clinical practice guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America: 2018 update on diagnosis, treatment, chemoprophylaxis, and institutional outbreak management of seasonal influenza. Clin Infect Dis 2019; 68:895.
United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Influenza virus testing methods. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/diagnosis/table-testing-methods.htm (Accessed on August 31, 2021).

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خرید پکیج

Influenza diagnostic tests for respiratory specimens[1,2]

Influenza diagnostic tests for respiratory specimens^[1,2]