At the onset of any flu symptoms, it is important that you see your doctor, ideally within the first 48 hours after the symptoms begin. Your doctor may choose to conduct a rapid flu test, such as the QuickVueŽ Influenza A+B Test, which will provide flu test results within 10 minutes. The QuickVue flu test is an easy-to-use test that will help your doctor diagnose flu within 10 minutes. Getting your flu test results within the first 48 hours is important because it may provide your doctor with options for treatment.1
What Do Flu Test Results Mean?
As previously mentioned, your flu test results from the QuickVue flu test may indicate that you actually have Influenza A or Influenza B. Sometimes, people who take a flu test show results that are negative for flu, which may indicate that these people have the common cold that displays symptoms very similar to that of the flu. This is why it is important to get a flu test which will help your doctor make a diagnosis. Some of the common symptoms for both the flu and the common cold are: headaches, fever, body aches, sore throat, dry cough, loss of appetite, runny nose, and possibly diarrhea and vomiting (typically in children).2
Why Is It Important to Get Flu Test Results?
The flu is a contagious virus and is mainly spread from person to person through coughing, sneezing or speaking from people infected with influenza. Flu can also be spread when a person touches a surface that has viruses on it. According to the CDC, most healthy adults can infect others as early as one day before symptoms develop and up to five days after becoming sick. It is possible to pass on the flu to others before you even know you are sick. If you see your doctor within 48 hours of the onset of the flu like symptoms, it will enable you to limit your contact with others if you are diagnosed with the flu. Furthermore, you should limit your exposure to high risk individuals which may include: pregnant women, children under 5 years old, people over 50 years old, people with chronic medical conditions, and people living in assisted living or nursing homes. Knowing your flu test results will help you make responsible decisions related to your interaction with other individuals while you are sick.3
1http://www.flutest.com/flu-facts/
2http://www.flutest.com/flu-facts/flu-symptoms.htm
3http://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms.htm
FLU FACTS
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