Influenza is a seasonal respiratory illness that occurs annually, usually peaking in winter. It affects 5-10% of adults and 20-30% of children each year.1 Seasonal outbreaks can result in hospitalisation and death mainly among high-risk groups (the very young, elderly or chronically ill).2 Worldwide, annual epidemics are estimated to result in 3–5 million cases of severe illness, and 290,000–650,000 deaths.2
Influenza is characterized by sudden onset of symptoms.3 These symptoms (including fever, headache, sore throat, muscle pains, body aches, runny nose, fatigue and dry cough) overlap with many upper and lower respiratory infections caused by other bacterial and/or viral pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2. This makes diagnosis based on symptoms alone challenging for clinicians.4
Current diagnostic methods commonly used are point-of-care rapid antigen tests, molecular point of care tests and lab based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests.5,6 Rapid antigen tests for influenza have limited sensitivity so negative test results should be interpreted with caution given the potential for false negative results. Reliable negative results for influenza enable clinicians to consider other causes of illness like bacterial infections that require antibiotics.5
An unmet need exists for lab-quality tests that can accurately rule in or rule out influenza quickly, near patients to inform clinical management.7
Use of molecular point-of-care testing that can reliably detect viral and/or bacterial pathogens would result in enhanced care, less antibiotic empiricism, reduced patient and societal cost of illness.8
Clinical studies have particularly shown decreased use of antibiotics and increased use of antivirals when influenza is diagnosed by molecular point-of-care testing.9-11
Advanced diagnostic testing strategies support critical and timely identification of hospital and community aquired infections with tools essential to reduce the global burden of disease.
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