The Influenza virus is a serious and highly contagious infection of the respiratory tract. The virus is easily spread by coughing and sneezing. Although the majority of patients recover in one or two weeks without needing any treatment, there are risk groups such as children, the elderly, pregnant women and immunosuppressed people where serious complications can occur leading to death.
Outbreaks due to Influenza infection occur each year during the autumn and winter months being very seasonal. The rapid identification of the virus is very important since it allows saving in health costs by reducing, on the one hand, the number of hospitalised patients and, on the other hand, the medicines to be prescribed (if it is confirmed that it is a viral infection, antibiotics would not be prescribed).
In the case of Influenza not all antiviral drugs are effective against type A and type B of the virus, hence the importance of distinguishing between both types.
The Flu A+B chromatographic immunoassay is a rapid procedure for the qualitative detection of the Influenza virus types A and B in respiratory samples such us nasopharyngeal swabs, washes and aspirates.
A positive signal in either test bands provides a good indication that should draw the attention of the clinician to the possible presence of an Influenza infection and contribute to the diagnosis of the patient.
