Strategies to Improve Flu Diagnosis

Seasonal influenza (flu) is one of the most common infectious diseases seen by clinicians. It sickens about a billion people around the world each year, resulting in three to five million cases of severe illness and 290,000-650,000 respiratory deaths annually. [1]

Diagnosing flu is challenging

Helping patients get the appropriate treatment as quickly as possible is essential for mitigating the disease burden associated with the flu; however, accurately diagnosing influenza is challenging. That is mainly because respiratory illnesses such as the flu, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and the common cold can have significant symptom overlap (fever, cough, sore throat, and fatigue, e.g.), which makes it difficult for clinicians to diagnose based on symptoms alone. (This is especially true for distinguishing between Influenza A and B.)

Complicating the clinical picture even more, during peak flu season, patients may be infected with more than one infectious agent (virus or bacteria) simultaneously, and this potential for coinfection can hinder efforts to pinpoint a primary pathogen. Plus, emerging viral strains can cause atypical symptoms compared to previous strains, resulting in ever-evolving diagnostic complexity.

The wrong diagnosis can be costly

Despite these challenges, accurately diagnosing influenza and other respiratory diseases is vital. After all, given the potential severity and contagiousness of the flu, the wrong diagnosis can be costly both economically and socially. For instance, research has shown that unnecessary antibiotic prescribing for upper respiratory tract infections (URIs) and influenza among children in the U.S. increased health care costs by an estimated $20.7 million. [2] Another study found that the misuse of antibiotics is widespread for outpatient acute respiratory infections, potentially leading to antimicrobial resistance or other health complications. [3]

How can clinicians improve the laboratory diagnosis and clinical management of influenza?

Solutions to improve flu diagnosis

The following solutions can help enhance accuracy, efficiency, and accessibility in flu detection:

Ongoing education and training: Regular updates on the latest research and trends can enhance clinical awareness and improve the recognition of emerging or atypical presentations of respiratory illnesses, ultimately leading to more accurate diagnoses. For example, in a recent Thermo Fisher Scientific webinar, Dr. Jonathan Edward Schmitz, Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, discussed trends in human influenza infection and reviewed advances in laboratory diagnosis, epidemiological surveillance and clinical management of influenza A and B. [4]
Greater attention to patient histories: Gathering detailed information about vaccination status, prior illnesses, and recent exposures can assist clinicians in narrowing down potential diagnoses.
Epidemiological surveillance: Tracking virus circulation, identifying emerging strains, and providing real-time data to guide testing and treatment strategies. Monitoring infection trends can help identify new strains and provide real-time data so clinicians can make more informed diagnostic decisions and public health officials can allocate resources effectively.
Increased access to molecular testing: Expanding the availability of molecular tests for flu, COVID-19, and other respiratory illnesses is fundamental to improving diagnosis. By having better access to molecular diagnostics, such as PCR testing, clinicians can more quickly differentiate between conditions and provide the correct treatment.
Streamlined diagnostic workflow: Molecular diagnostic tests that integrate with laboratory information management systems create a closed system between the clinician requesting the test and the diagnostic laboratory. This, in turn, can reduce delays, minimize errors, and help ensure rapid, accurate identification of flu pathogens for timely treatment and containment.

Advances in molecular diagnostic tests for influenza

Recent advances have enabled diagnostic tests that allow clinicians to more accurately diagnose and improve the clinical management of influenza A and B, as well as other respiratory diseases. For example, the Applied Biosystems TaqPath COVID‑19, Flu A, Flu B, RSV Select Panel is a multiplex, real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in vitro diagnostic test for the qualitative detection and differentiation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), influenza A virus, influenza B virus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). [5]

Thermo Fisher Scientific has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for the Applied Biosystems™ TaqPath™ COVID-19, Flu A, Flu B, RSV Select Panel, offering a single clinical testing solution for four of the most common respiratory viruses circulating in flu season. [6]

Improving flu diagnosis can reduce global disease burden

Influenza results in significant morbidity and mortality around the world each year. Improving flu diagnosis is vital to enabling timely treatment, reducing the spread of infection, and mitigating the risks of antimicrobial resistance. To learn more about advances in molecular testing for influenza and other respiratory pathogens, click here: https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/clinical/clinical-genomics/pathogen-detection-solutions/real-time-pcr-respiratory-tract-microbiota-detection.html

For In Vitro Diagnostics.

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