Testing for Flu in the time of COVID-19

The severity of the upcoming COVID-19 and flu season is unpredictable

As social distancing measures decrease, influenza transmission may increase.¹ At the same time, experts believe that COVID-19 will continue to circulate endemically. As a result, both COVID-19 and flu are likely to co-circulate. Rapid testing remains an important to manage respiratory illness unpredictability.²

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Do you have the tools you need to distinguish between COVID-19 and flu?

COVID-19 and influenza share symptoms

COVID-19 and flu share common symptoms like fever, cough and shortness of breath, among others, making it difficult to differentiate based on symptoms alone.³

More than ever, diagnostics are needed to appropriately identify, treat, and control spread

Early research shows that co-infection between COVID-19 and influenza is possible, and may lead to worse patient outcomes, which means that monitoring for both illnesses is especially important in the upcoming flu season.

Experimental co-infection found that influenza A virus pre-infection significantly promoted the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2. (2021)⁴
A review of literature concluded that coinfection occurs, the pathophysiology is complex, and that coinfection leads to greater pulmonary damage. (June 2021)⁵
A single-center study found patients co‐infected with SARS‐CoV‐2 and influenza B virus have a higher risk of developing poor outcomes (Nov 2021)⁶

CDC guidelines recommend testing for both COVID-19 and influenza when the viruses are co-circulating

“A positive influenza test result without SARS-CoV-2 testing does not exclude COVID-19, and a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result without influenza testing does not exclude influenza”
– CDC Guidelines⁷

CDC guidelines recommend testing for both influenza and SARS-CoV-2 for patients requiring hospital admission.

For outpatient settings, CDC guidelines recommend testing for COVID-19, and additionally testing for Flu if impacting clinical management or infection control. Learn more on the CDC website.

Rapid testing supports fast and accurate diagnosis of both COVID-19 and influenza to protect communities

Monitor

Track community transmission in an unpredictable season

Control

Implement infection control practices as soon as possible

Threat

Prescribe antiviral flu or COVID-19 treatment as appropriate

Solutions for respiratory diagnosis

Abbott has rapid point-of-care solutions to support your COVID-19 and influenza testing needs

ID NOW™ COVID-19

The ID NOW™ COVID-19 assay is now available for use on the ID NOW platform under U.S. Food and Drug Administration Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). The ID NOW™ COVID-19 rapid test delivers high-quality molecular positive results in as little as 5 minutes, targeting the coronavirus (COVID-19) RdRp Gene.

ID NOW™ Influenza A & B 2

ID NOW™ Influenza A & B 2 delivers molecular flu results in less than 13 minutes on the user-friendly ID NOW™ platform.

BINAXNOW™ COVID-19 Ag card and NAVICA™ Mobile App

The first-of-its-kind NAVICA™ app helps people navigate daily life in a new normal. NAVICA displays results from the 15-minute BinaxNOW™ COVID-19 Ag Card, a rapid antigen test, to help individuals make informed decisions.

BinaxNOW^™ Influenza A&B Card 2

BinaxNOW™ Influenza A & B Card 2 with DIGIVAL™ reader is an in vitro immunochromatographic assay for the qualitative detection of influenza A and B nucleoprotein antigens in nasopharyngeal (NP) swab and nasal swab samples.

Ahmed et al, Effectiveness of workplace social distancing measures in reducing influenza transmission: a systematic review. BMC Public Health. 2018;18:518. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5446-1
Phillips N.. The coronavirus is here to stay —here’s what that means. Nature. 2021; 590: 382-384. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-00396-2.
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. “Similarities and Differences between Flu and COVID-19.” Page reviewed June 7, 2021. Link
Bai, L., Zhao, Y., Dong, J. et al. Coinfection with influenza A virus enhances SARS-CoV-2 infectivity. Cell Res 31, 395–403 (2021). (Link).
Covin, S, Rutherford G. Coinfection, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and Influenza: An Evolving Puzzle. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 15 June 2021; 72(12), e993–e994. (Link)
Yue H, Zhang M, Xing L, et al. The epidemiology and clinical characteristics of co‐infection of SARS‐CoV‐2 and influenza viruses in patients during COVID‐19 outbreak. J Med Virol. 2020 Nov; 92(11):2870-2873. (Link- abstract) (Link-Full paper-requires login)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Testing Guidance for Clinicians When SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza Viruses are Co-circulating. Page last reviewed Oct 10, 2020. (Link)

The ID NOW COVID-19 EUA has not been FDA cleared or approved. It has been authorized by the FDA under an emergency use authorization for use by authorized laboratories and patient care settings. The test has been authorized only for the detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens, and is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostic tests for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the authorization is terminated or revoked sooner.

The BinaxNOW™ COVID-19 Ag Card has not been FDA cleared or approved. It has been authorized by the FDA under an emergency use authorization. It has been authorized only for the detection of proteins from SARSCoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens, and are only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the declaration is terminated or authorization is revoked sooner.