Influenza Testing
Influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and parainfluenza are all viruses that cause respiratory tract infections. The young, the elderly and patients with compromised cardiac, pulmonary or immune systems are at greatest risk for serious disease when infected with these viruses. In children approximately 20% of pneumonias are due to RSV, while 15% are due to parainfluenza virus. RSV infection is the most commonly identified agent in 75% of children under two years of age who are hospitalized for bronchiolitis. These viruses can lead to serious morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients, hence early identification is recommended to allow appropriate management and minimize progression to more serious illness. Benefits of the Test
· Assists in the differential diagnosis of respiratory tract infections.
· Allows virus-specific treatment where appropriate and the avoidance of inappropriate antibiotic therapy.
· Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing is faster than traditional virus culture and
more sensitive than immunofluroescence methods.
Swine and Avian Influenza
Medical Practitioners are reminded that clinically suspected Swine or Avian Influenza must be urgently notified to their local Health Authority, who will then either arrange for samples to be sent directly to the State Reference Laboratory for testing or advise that they can be processed by our laboratory.
Our Respiratory Virus PCR Test will detect both the H1N1 and the H5N1 strains of Influenza A (Swine and Avian respectively) which will be reported as Influenza A. If in the event of a positive Influenza A result there is, in retrospect, a clinical possibility of H1N1 or H5N1 infection, then the local Health Authority must be notified to discuss possible further testing and patient management.
Tests Available
(a) Influenza A and B
(b) RSV
(c) Parainfluenza 1, 2 and 3
These may be ordered in any combination of (a), (b) or (c) or all three by simply requesting “Respiratory Virus PCR” or “RV PCR.”
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| Medicare Rebate: | Yes |
| Specimen Type: | Nose/throat or nasopharyngeal swabs |
| Test Frequency: | Daily (Mon-Fri) |
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