If you have signs like a runny nose, fever, cough, etc., chances are you’ve got the flu. While flu is a common viral infection, sometimes it can be severe and lead to complications. However, early testing and treatment can easily help you manage the condition. The best option for getting diagnosed and treated for flu is urgent care centers. Why? Read this article to find out. Log on to www.doralhw.org for a consultation.
What is Rapid Flu testing?
Rapid Flu testing or Rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs) are diagnostic tests to identify the presence of influenza A and B viral nucleoprotein antigens in respiratory specimens and show the result that you are infected or not in just 15 minutes.
In the US, these tests are commonly used with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or viral culture. However, these tests have limited sensitivity to detect influenza viruses in respiratory specimens compared to RT-PCR or viral culture, and sometimes negative RIDT test results can also be interpreted. False-negative results can be dangerous, especially during peak influenza activity in a community. Some RIDTs use an analyzer reader to interpret results.
Advantage and disadvantage
Here are the advantages and disadvantages of RIDTs:
Advantages
• It is easy to perform and produces quick results typically in less than 15 minutes.
• Some RIDTs can be used for office/bedside use. CLIA-waived RIDTs can be used in settings that need point-of-care.
Disadvantages
• Sub-optimal test sensitivity and false negative results are common, especially when influenza activity is high in the community.
• The RIDT sensitivity to detect influenza B viral antigens is lower than the detection of influenza A viral antigens.
• In some cases, if the specificity is high, false positive results can also occur, especially when influenza activity is low.
• Some RIDTs can distinguish between influenza A and B viruses while others can’t. RIDTs can provide results on the type of influenza virus (like influenza A or B virus) but don’t provide information on their subtypes like influenza A virus subtype for example, A(H1N1)pdm09 versus A(H3N2) or specific virus strain information (like the degree of similarity to vaccine strains). RIDTs also can’t differentiate between seasonal influenza A virus infection and novel influenza A virus infection because infections with avian or variant influenza A viruses are remarkably similar.
Benefits
There are many benefits you can get tested for flu at urgent care centers, including:
1. Accessibility and Convenience:
Urgent care centers are typically located in areas where they are easy to access for the local community. They understand that illnesses like flu can occur anytime, often when primary care facilities are closed. As a result, people might suffer. To tackle this, urgent care centers offer extended hours, including evenings and weekends to ensure that you can receive timely care when required.
2. Faster service compared to emergency rooms:
Flu symptoms can vary in severity and often need prompt attention to relieve discomfort and prevent complications. Urgent care centers are well-equipped to handle these types of flu cases efficiently. As a result, you experience shorter waiting times than in emergency rooms and are seen by healthcare professionals quickly, reducing the time spent in discomfort.
3. Cost-Effective:
There are high healthcare costs of significant concern for many individuals, especially for those without insurance or facing high deductibles. In contrast, urgent care centers are usually more cost-effective than emergency room visits because they offer transparent pricing and lower co-pays, which make this an affordable option for flu treatment. Additionally, some urgent care centers also work with a wide range of insurance providers to ease your financial burden.
4. Expert in flu diagnosis and treatment:
Urgent care centers have experienced healthcare professionals who can be trained in diagnosing and treating the flu. They can easily assess your symptoms, perform necessary tests, and provide appropriate treatment, including antiviral medication if needed. Their expertise ensures that you get the best care possible for your flu-related concerns.
5. Prevent the transmission of the flu:
The flu is a very highly contagious infection that needs to be prevented to lower the risk of further virus transmission. Urgent care centers follow specific protocols to lower exposure and protect patients and staff. Visiting an urgent care facility provides the care you need and helps to lower the risk of spreading the flu to others.
6. Relieving Strain on Hospitals:
During flu season, hospitals are flooded with patients, and many of them are dealing with severe cases or complications. If you visit an urgent care center, then it lowers the strain by handling non-emergent flu cases separately. This also helps hospitals focus their resources on patients dealing with critical symptoms while ensuring that individuals with the flu vaccine get timely and appropriate care.
Use of RIDTs in Clinical Decision-making
RIDTs may be used to help with diagnostic and treatment decisions for patients in clinical settings like to prescribe antiviral medications or not. However, due to the limited sensitivities, negative results of RIDTs are not able to exclude influenza virus infection in patients with signs and symptoms that suggest influenza. That’s why, if clinically indicated, antiviral treatment cannot be withdrawn from patients with suspected influenza, even if they test negative by RIDT and further influenza testing of respiratory specimens by molecular assays might be indicated.
Keep in mind that testing is not required for all patients with signs and symptoms of influenza to make antiviral treatment decisions. If influenza activity has been recorded in the community and geographic area, then a clinical diagnosis of influenza can be made for outpatients if they have signs and symptoms consistently with suspected influenza, especially during peak periods of influenza activity in the community.
Rapid flu testing at urgent care centers is the best way to ensure care and prevention of risk of transmission to others. Urgent care centers offer many benefits such as easy accessibility and convenience, cost-effectiveness, expertise in flu diagnosis and treatment, etc. All these benefits make urgent care centers a good option for flu testing and treatment.
Need help with flu symptoms, visit our infectious disease doctor in Brooklyn clinic to get professional medical help. Call us to book your appointment now and save others from this disease!!!!
Doral Health and Wellness has several urgent care clinics around New York that can cater to your family’s medical needs. We also have the best medical providers, physicians and staff that are highly trained in their respective specialties. To know more about the locations of our urgent care clinics, you can visit us at Doral Health and Wellness. If you are looking for urgent care near you, you can visit Doral Health and Wellness Urgent Care. We provide urgent care for common illnesses and injuries. Additionally, we also provide comprehensive care for any related injuries and health problems. We also offer other services, such as vaccinations, immunizations, and blood testing. For more info, visit us or call 1-347-384-5690.
