For the second time this season, flu cases in the US are at an all-time high. You may now do a virus test at home.

This season, the number of flu cases in the US is reaching a second peak. With a 30% test positivity rate at the end of last month, doctor’s office visits for flu, which had decreased earlier this year, surged over the previous season peak, and there are still months left.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this season has seen at least 20 million flu infections and 11,000 fatalities. With an estimated 38,255 hospitalizations due to the virus last week alone, hospitalizations are also on the rise. Additionally, there are other illnesses that are spreading: Additionally, nationwide wastewater testing reveals high concentrations of the Covid-19 virus, significantly higher than those observed at the beginning of winter.

This respiratory virus season, however, there are some new instruments to help: over-the-counter tests that can determine whether an infection is influenza or COVID-19.

In an effort to identify human bird flu illnesses earlier, the CDC is advocating for more testing.

The tests, which can be purchased online or at most pharmacies, let people find out what might be causing their illness without having to stand in line or schedule an appointment at a clinic.

The tests are the first to allow the public to test for flu at home, but they won’t detect every respiratory virus. Depending on the test type, findings are available in 15 to 30 minutes using self-collected nasal swabs.

The US Food and Drug Administration has granted emergency use authorization to a number of businesses, allowing them to introduce combination tests to the market. Healgen is one test that has been approved for sale outside of emergency situations.

The majority employ fast antigen technology, which allows the test to detect a specific virus component and notify the user when it is present.

Pfizer’s Lucira, another at-home test, uses RT-LAMP technology to identify viruses by detecting and amplifying their genetic material.

What to do if your flu test results are positive

If you have symptoms but test negative for COVID or the flu, you may have a false positive, have tested too early, or have another infection. The CDC advises taking extra measures and seeking medical attention from a professional.

People who test positive for the flu or COVID-19 virus should inform their doctor, especially if they have underlying medical concerns, and isolate themselves as much as possible to protect loved ones, according to experts.

Primary care physician Dr. Sarah Nosal of the Bronx, New York, emphasizes the value of isolation in halting the transmission of disease.
I typically take care of everyone who lives in the same home or neighborhood as that person because I’m a family doctor. Helping with the fundamentals of taking care of you as well as preventing additional exposures is the main goal, she stated.

Additionally, the home testing may speed up the course of treatment for patients.

According to Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, his emergency room is currently crowded with patients suffering from respiratory illnesses, most of whom have the flu.

Therefore, patients might be encouraged to get in touch with their doctors sooner if the tests were readily accessible.

When choosing a course of treatment and controlling symptom expectations, knowing the difference between the flu and COVID might also be crucial. According to the CDC, there are specific instances where COVID-19 can result in more severe illness. Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 may also be at risk for long-term COVID-19.

The antiviral therapy options for both viruses are also different. While most patients will recover without medicine in a few days, the CDC states that antiviral treatments such as Tamiflu and Paxlovid work best when administered within the first two days of symptoms.

It takes time for new tests to be adopted.

Combo flu tests are now available in every drugstore, but adoption takes time. Michael Mina, chief scientific officer of eMed, says the number of test purchases has surged in recent months. However, specialists are concerned about their use as the number of flu infections continues to rise.