Salt Lake City – A new type of Covid-19 test that can detect influenza and RSV, reducing the burden on some hospitals
Researchers at ARUP Laboratories are bringing a new type of nasal swab test that can detect three respiratory diseases by a single test.
COVID-19 is already causing a lot of stress on hospitals, doctors and nurses, with health officials in Utah urging everyone to get their flu shot this year. Analysts at ARUP Laboratories say a large influx of influenza patients could rob an already struggling hospital system.
Dr. Adam Barker, Director of ARUP COVID-19 Rapid Response Lab, says that we have not yet seen many confirmed cases of influenza, largely because of the precautionary measures that people are taking to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory problems. Also works for. However, it is too early to know how bad the flu season will be.
“We’re just starting that season,” says Barker. The flu season usually starts in November, with ramps coming in December and January, and peaking in February.
The developers of ARUP and Thermo Fisher Scientific are giving hospitals and clinics a new type of test that can detect COVID-19, influenza A / B and RSV, which is especially dangerous for young children and the elderly. Not every cough is related to coronavirus, Barker says, and treatment can vary dramatically between these three diseases.
“All three diseases are very similar when the patient is compressed,” says Barker.
Patients will need to talk to their doctors to request this specific test, but, Barker says, will ensure that patients do not return for additional tests once an illness has occurred.
“You can do one test at a time and get all the information at once instead of bringing people back to clinics and back to hospitals,” he says.
Barker believes some patients may ignore the flu and RSV because COVD-19 attracts the attention of everyone across the country.
He says, “Usually during the flu season we check for the flu first, then if it’s not the flu, we look for other respiratory viruses. Covid migrated to us, so, this year we want to make sure we cover Covid. “
This special exam is administered in one of two ways. Health care workers can either use a cold nasal swab, or they can get samples from the back of the throat and the front of the nose. Barker says saliva tests are not effective for detecting influenza.
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