Rapid influenza diagnostic test

A rapid influenza diagnostic test (RIDT) tells whether a person has a current influenza infection by detecting the influenza viral nucleoprotein antigen. Commercially available RIDTs can provide results within 30 minutes. These results can be observed by a color change or other visual signals.{{cite journal | vauthors = Vemula SV, Zhao J, Liu J, Wang X, Biswas S, Hewlett I | title = Current Approaches for Diagnosis of Influenza Virus Infections in Humans | journal = Viruses | volume = 8 | issue = 4 | pages = 96 | date = April 2016 | pmid = 27077877 | pmc = 4848591 | doi = 10.3390/v8040096 | doi-access = free }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/diagnosis/clinician_guidance_ridt.htm|title=Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Tests {{!}} Seasonal Influenza (Flu) {{!}} CDC|date=2017-04-07|website=www.cdc.gov|access-date=2018-09-08}} For clinicians, RIDTs serve as a first-line test that can be confirmed (especially if negative) by traditional diagnostic tests. RIDTs also allow clinicians to promptly start antiviral treatment in high-risk populations, to formulate effective infection control measures, and to make informed decisions regarding diagnostic investigations.{{Cite web|url=https://annals.org/aim/fullarticle/1103756|title=Accuracy of Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Tests: A Meta Analysis|date=2012-04-03|website=www.annals.org|access-date=2018-11-01}}{{cite journal | vauthors = Chartrand C, Pai M | title = How accurate are rapid influenza diagnostic tests? | journal = Expert Review of Anti-Infective Therapy | volume = 10 | issue = 6 | pages = 615–7 | date = June 2012 | pmid = 22734950 | doi = 10.1586/eri.12.49 | doi-access = free }} RIDTs have been shown to reduce chest radiography and blood tests in ambulatory care settings, but not antibiotic prescribing, or time in the emergency department.{{Cite journal|last1=Lee|first1=Joseph J|last2=Verbakel|first2=Jan Y|last3=Goyder|first3=Clare R|last4=Ananthakumar|first4=Thanusha|last5=Tan|first5=Pui San|last6=Turner|first6=Phillip J|last7=Hayward|first7=Gail|last8=Van den Bruel|first8=Ann|date=4 October 2018|title=The clinical utility of point-of-care tests for influenza in ambulatory care: A systematic review and meta-analysis|journal=Clinical Infectious Diseases|volume=69|issue=1|pages=24–33|doi=10.1093/cid/ciy837|pmid=30285232|pmc=6579962}}

According to a study, an H1N1 rapid test had a sensitivity of 66 %, corresponding to a false-negative probability of 34 % in detecting H1N1.{{cite journal | vauthors = Louie JK, Guevara H, Boston E, Dahlke M, Nevarez M, Kong T, Schechter R, Glaser CA, Schnurr DP | title = Rapid influenza antigen test for diagnosis of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 | journal = Emerging Infectious Diseases | volume = 16 | issue = 5 | pages = 824–6 | date = May 2010 | pmid = 20409373 | pmc = 2954007 | doi = 10.3201/eid1605.091797 }}