What laboratory tests are available to detect influenza?
Diagnostic tests available for detecting influenza virus conducted by laboratories include viral culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), rapid antigen testing, and immunofluorescence. There also are commercial rapid diagnostic tests available that can be used by laboratories in outpatient settings to detect influenza viruses within 30 minutes. These rapid tests differ in whether or not they can distinguish between influenza A and B viruses. These tests also vary in the chance that they will miss an influenza infection and sometimes falsely detect an infection. During an influenza outbreak, a positive test is likely to indicate influenza infection.
