15 Oct 08 08:32 | SheldonCampbell said regarding RapidTestingForInfluenza:
Am I missing something, or is very little happening on this site? What research is taking place?

15 Oct 08 08:30 | SheldonCampbell said regarding RapidTestingForInfluenza:
What's meant by 'rapid influenza tests do not provide new influenza isolates to the public health system' is that non-culture methods such as rapid tests don't help in surveillance for new strains, which occur each year. This is also an issue with the new generation of molecular influenza tests which is replacing culture methods.

While I agree with your comments on the technical quality of rapid tests; they lack sensitivity and specificity versus better lab-based methods; they do provide more accurate diagnosis than clinical impression does in settings where no better test is available.

Definitely shouldn't be used outside of the flu season, though.

11 Sep 08 15:09 | FrancesTyrrell said regarding RapidTestingForInfluenza:
I'm not sure what is meant by "Although rapid influenza tests do not provide new influenza isolates to the public health system"..does this mean rapid influenzae tests do not provide information on or diagnosis of novel influenzae viruses to public health practitioners? And I'm not sure that one could argue that they provide "more accurate influenzae diagnoses". More accurate than what? During times of low prevalence, rapid influenzae tests are of low predictive value, and positives need to be confirmed. The limitations of rapid testing need to be emphasized here.

09 Jan 08 12:35 | LjTan said regarding RapidTestingForInfluenza:
Cool...