Traditional methods for influenza testing such as viral culture and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests can take days to produce results. However, during influenza pandemics or seasonal outbreaks, quick diagnosis is critical for appropriate clinical management and public health response. Rapid diagnostic tests that can produce results within 30 minutes have emerged as an important tool to address this need. There are various testing platforms currently available for rapid influenza diagnosis globally.

Immunoassays

Immunoassays utilize antibodies to detect influenza surface antigens present in patient samples such as nasopharyngeal or throat swabs. They are the most commonly used rapid diagnostic tests globally due to their ease of use and low cost. Lateral flow immunoassays operate on a similar principle to over-the-counter pregnancy tests and produce visible line results. While these assays are convenient for point-of-care use, they tend to have lower sensitivity compared to lab-based methods like RT-PCR. To improve accuracy, some immunoassays use fluorescence capture for signal detection.

Global Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Tests  - https://www.coherentmi.com/blog/global-rapid-influenza-diagnostic-tests-emerging-as-important-tools-for-pandemic-control-and-prevention-106