What exactly is the flu?

There are two types of influenza: influenza A (type A), influenza B (type B) and influenza C (type C). Both influenza A and influenza B are more severe, faster and more intense than the common cold.

The reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction is more sensitive compared to the cell culture method, but it is expensive, takes 6 hours, and requires a specialized laboratory, so its application in the field is limited.

To assist in clinical diagnosis of whether a person is infected with influenza virus, the Laboratory Department of the Central Hospital has introduced the Influenza A / B virus antigen detection reagent, which uses immunochromatographic technology to detect influenza virus antigen using the double antibody sandwich method to facilitate rapid detection of whether people have influenza. The test is easy to sample, safe to operate, easy to read results, and fast and effective.

Some patients or family members, especially parents of children, are distressed by their children's needles, but now parents can stop being distressed! Our influenza virus antigen test uses not blood, but nasal aspirate, nasal swab or throat swab, and the collection process is completely non-invasive!

How are the specimens collected?

1

Nasal secretion collection: The tube on one side of the aspirator is attached to the suction pump, and the tube on the other side is completely inserted into the nasal cavity through the external nostril to start the suction pump to collect nasal fluid in the aspirator. Dip the swab into the nasal suction fluid to stain the specimen onto the swab.

2

Nasal swab collection: insert the sterilized cotton swab completely into the nasal cavity and rub the turbinates several times to collect the mucosal epidermis.

3

Pharyngeal swab collection: insert the sterilized cotton swab completely from the mouth into the pharynx, take the reddened parts of the posterior pharyngeal wall and palatine tonsils as the center and rub them several times to collect the mucosal epidermis. When collecting, be careful not to touch the saliva.

Whether influenza A or influenza B, the effect of antipyretic agents is not very good, with a state of retained hyperthermia, and no sweating or fever reduction even with antipyretic drugs. Recently, these fevers have simmered parents with great emaciation and anxiety, which are actually symptoms of influenza.

It is not difficult to diagnose influenza with clinical symptoms during the epidemic period, but laboratory tests are necessary to confirm the diagnosis or for epidemic surveillance. The gold standard method of laboratory diagnosis is virus isolation and culture, and the cell culture identification cycle is 14 days, which seriously affects the timely medication guidance for patients in the clinic, and the method is limited in the clinic.