Infectious Disease Test Kits 

Influenza Testing

What is Influenza?

Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe symptoms and can even lead to death in some cases. Symptoms of the flu include fever, chills, body aches, fatigue, sore throat, runny nose and coughing.

How to Perform an Influenza Test

The most common way to test for influenza is through a rapid antigen test or RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) test. The rapid antigen test involves taking a swab from the patient’s nose or throat and testing it for the presence of antigens that indicate infection with an influenza virus. The RT-PCR test requires collecting a sample of mucus from the patient’s nose or throat which is then tested for genetic material associated with an influenza virus. Both tests provide results within minutes but may vary depending on laboratory processing times.

Benefits of Testing for Influenza

Testing for influenza can help diagnose patients quickly, allowing them to receive appropriate treatment sooner rather than later. Early diagnosis also helps prevent further spread of the disease since infected individuals will be more likely to take steps such as self-isolation if they know they have been exposed to the virus. Additionally, testing allows healthcare providers to track outbreaks and monitor changes in viral strains over time, which helps inform public health decisions related to vaccine development and distribution strategies.

Strep Testing

Strep testing is a type of infectious disease test used to detect the presence of streptococcus bacteria. Strep is a common bacterial infection that can cause symptoms such as sore throat, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. If left untreated, it can lead to more serious complications such as rheumatic fever or kidney inflammation.

What is Strep?

Strep is an abbreviation for Streptococcus pyogenes, which are gram-positive bacteria found in the human body. These bacteria are responsible for many infections including strep throat and scarlet fever. They can also cause skin infections such as impetigo and cellulitis. In some cases, they may even lead to sepsis or toxic shock syndrome if not treated promptly with antibiotics.

How to Perform a Strep Test?

A strep test involves taking a sample from the infected area using either swabbing or scraping techniques depending on where the infection is located on the body. The sample will then be sent off to a laboratory for analysis under a microscope so that doctors can determine whether there are any signs of strep present in the specimen. Depending on what kind of results come back from this test, further treatment options may be recommended by your doctor or healthcare provider.

Benefits of Testing for Strep:

Testing for strep has several benefits when it comes to treating an infection quickly and effectively before it spreads throughout your body or causes more severe health issues down the road. It helps identify exactly what type of bacteria you have so that you can get started on appropriate antibiotic treatment right away instead of having to wait until symptoms worsen before getting help from your doctor or healthcare provider. Additionally, testing allows doctors to track how well their patients respond over time after being prescribed antibiotics since certain types of infections require longer courses than others do in order to fully clear up all traces of infection from your system completely.