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Laboratory Information for Collection of Respiratory Specimens for Influenza Virus Testing

What to know

  • This page provides guidance for clinicians on testing and treatment of influenza when SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses are co-circulating. Additional guidance is provided on when to test for influenza, how to interpret influenza testing results, what influenza laboratory tests are available, and influenza specimen collection. Guidance and resources for laboratory directors and staff are also available on this page.

Guidance for Clinicians

Testing and treatment of influenza when SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses are co-circulating

Clinical Guidance for Hospitalized and Non-Hospitalized Patients When SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza Viruses are Co-Circulating
Everything you need to know about the flu illness, including symptoms, treatment and prevention.
Clinical Guidance for Patients with Acute Respiratory Illness Being Hospitalized When SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza Viruses are Co-Circulating
Everything you need to know about the flu illness, including symptoms, treatment and prevention.
Clinical Guidance for Patients with Acute Respiratory Illness Not Being Hospitalized When SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza Viruses are Co-Circulating
Determining whether a patient with acute respiratory illness symptoms does not require hospital admi...
Testing and Management Considerations for Nursing Home Residents with Acute Respiratory Illness Symptoms when SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza Viruses are Co-circulating
Guidelines for when SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza viruses are found to be co-circulating based upon local...

When to Test for Influenza

Guide for considering influenza testing when influenza viruses are circulating in the community
Guide for considering influenza testing when influenza viruses are circulating in the community
Influenza virus testing in investigational outbreaks in institutional or other closed settings
Everything you need to know about the flu illness, including symptoms, treatment and prevention.

How to Interpret Influenza Testing Results

Algorithm to assist in the interpretation of influenza testing results and clinical decision-making during periods when influenza viruses are circulating in the community
Algorithm to assist in the interpretation of influenza testing results and clinical decision-making...
Algorithm to assist in the interpretation of influenza testing results and clinical decision-making during periods when influenza viruses are NOT circulating in the community
Algorithm to assist in the interpretation of influenza testing results and clinical decision-making...

What Influenza Virus Tests Are Available

Overview of Influenza Testing Methods
This page provides an overview for clinicians on influenza virus testing for outpatients with suspec...
Influenza Virus Testing Methods
Everything you need to know about the flu illness, including symptoms, treatment and prevention.
Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Tests (RIDTs)
Everything you need to know about the flu illness, including symptoms, treatment and prevention.
Table 3. Nucleic Acid Detection Based Tests
Everything you need to know about the flu illness, including symptoms, treatment and prevention.
Table 4. Multiplex Assays Authorized for Simultaneous Detection of Influenza Viruses and SARS-CoV-2 by FDA
Table 4. Multiplex Assays Authorized for Simultaneous Detection of Influenza Viruses and SARS-CoV-2...
Information on Rapid Molecular Assays, RT-PCR, and other Molecular Assays for Diagnosis of Influenza Virus Infection
Guidance for Clinicians on the Use of RT-PCR and Other Molecular Assays for Diagnosis of Influenza V...
Information for Clinicians on Rapid Diagnostic Testing for Influenza
Rapid diagnostic tests for influenza can help in the diagnosis and management of patients who presen...

Information for Laboratory Directors and Staff

International Reagent Resource (IRR): The IRR website provides registered users with reagents, tools and information on influenza and influenza virus detection
Guidance for Standards-Based Electronic Laboratory Reporting for Influenza
Find and reference diagnostic test information for RT-PCR test kits - CDC

Specimen Collection

Information on Collection of Respiratory Specimens for Influenza Virus Testing
This page provides information for clinicians on collection of respiratory specimens for influenza v...
Influenza Specimen Collection Reference Guide
This document is a reference guide for healthcare workers to use when collecting influenza specimens.
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Influenza Specimen Collection
flu-specimen-collection-poster
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Resources

Additional Information

Algorithm to Assist in Medical Office Telephone Evaluation of Patients with Possible Influenza
This tool may help medical office staff triage calls from patients with flu-like symptoms and identi...
Department of Transportation (DOT): Transporting Infectious Substances Safely
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Related Links

National Institutes of Health (NIH) COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines: Influenza and COVID-19
Diagnostic Accuracy of Novel and Traditional Rapid Tests for Influenza Infection Compared With Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Microbiology Devices; Reclassification of Influenza Virus Antigen Detection Test Systems Intended for Use Directly With Clinical Specimens
Influenza | Annals of Internal Medicine
Influenza – The Lancet
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Content Source:
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)