Purpose
Commercially available influenza diagnostic tests are commonly used by clinicians and hospital laboratories to detect influenza viruses in patients exhibiting symptoms of respiratory illness. Due to periodic reports of inaccurate results (i.e. false positive or false negative results) using rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDT) and commercial molecular tests, there is a concern for a potentially negative impact on public health/clinical management. The CDC/Influenza Division is requesting that public health laboratories notify CDC of incidents were discrepant results are observed in order to monitor if a particular diagnostic test is performing inaccurately.
Commercially available influenza diagnostic tests are commonly used by clinicians and hospital laboratories to detect influenza viruses in patients exhibiting symptoms of respiratory illness. Due to periodic reports of inaccurate results (i.e. false positive or false negative results) using rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDT) and commercial molecular tests, there is a concern for a potentially negative impact on public health/clinical management. The CDC/Influenza Division is requesting that public health laboratories notify CDC of incidents were discrepant results are observed in order to monitor if a particular diagnostic test is performing inaccurately.