Guidance For Clinicians On The Use Of Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Tests

Rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs) are immunoassays that can identify the presence of influenza A and B viral nucleoprotein antigens in respiratory specimens, and display the result in a qualitative way (positive vs. negative). In the United States, a number of RIDTs are commercially available. The reference standards for laboratory confirmation of influenza virus infection are reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or viral culture. RIDTs can yield results in a clinically relevant time frame, i.e., approximately 15 minutes or less. However, RIDTs have limited sensitivity to detect influenza virus infection and negative test results should be interpreted with caution given the potential for false negative results.