RAPID TESTING FOR RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES

Rapid tests are essential tools to help diagnose what’s behind your symptoms, so you can treat earlier and get well sooner.

Background Image
Background Image
Background Image
test

RAPID TESTING FOR RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES

Rapid tests are essential tools to help diagnose what’s behind your symptoms, so you can treat earlier and get well sooner.

Easier access. Faster results. That’s the power of rapid testing.

There’s rarely a convenient time to take a medical test. The good news is, you no longer need to go out of your way to get fast, reliable, and more accessible testing. From corner pharmacies to local urgent care clinics, our rapid test products are widely available. The same testing technology that is used in doctor's offices & emergency rooms is now also available in convenient care locations.

Sign up for Rapid Insights, our email series on rapid testing.

This program will teach you about rapid tests and how they can quickly identify illnesses like the flu, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and strep throat. Rapid molecular testing can help you get treated earlier and get well sooner.

Background image
Background image
Find the best test for you

Depending on your symptoms, you may choose to conduct a self test or visit a test provider for a fast and accurate rapid molecular test to be conducted during your visit.  Having accurate test results can help your clinician to prescribe the appropriate treatment.

family using swab test

OVER-THE-COUNTER
RAPID ANTIGEN SELF TEST

Testing yourself or a family member
  • Available over the counter (OTC) for personal use at home (COVID-19 only)
  • Easy to use with reliable results in 15 minutes or less
  • Good predictor of active infection - Negative results require serial or repeat testing
  • Does not provide a validated result for travel
technician running lab test

Rapid Molecular Tests From
A test provider

Molecular results, in minutes

  • Highly accurate, whether positive or negative
  • Ordered and conducted by trained professionals
  • Fast results during your visit to inform your treatment
  • Reduces need for follow-up visits and waiting for lab results to start treatment

Experiencing symptoms?

When you don’t feel well, it’s easy to describe your symptoms. What’s much harder is knowing the reason you feel sick in the first place. That’s because a sore throat, cough, and runny or stuffy nose could describe different respiratory infections. And the way you treat them can differ greatly.  Learn about different respiratory infections and rapid testing options.

EVERY TEST HAS A ROLE

Testing has now become part of our daily conversation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There are many different types of respiratory diagnostic tests that can be used to test for the flu, COVID-19, RSV, and strep throat.

TYPES OF TESTS AND TERMS TO KNOW

Rapid molecular tests (ISOTHERMAL/PCR TECHNOLOGY)

Rapid molecular tests detect viral RNA or DNA with results available in minutes.

  • Performed via a nasal or throat swab
  • Used at the point of care by a trained professional including doctors’ offices, urgent care, emergency departments, and pharmacies
  • Provide results in less than 13 minutess
Molecular PCR test

Molecular PCR tests detect viral RNA or DNA.

  • Performed via a nasal, nasopharyngeal or throat swab
  • Samples sent to a lab or hospital to run on a larger instrument together with higher volumes of patient samples.
  • Results are typically available in 1-3 days
Rapid Antigen Self Test

Detects active infection by identifying a protein from the virus or bacteria that causes that infection.

  • Performed via nasal or throat swab
  • Can be used at doctors' offices, urgent care, emergency rooms, pharmacy clinics, or bought at retailers for self testing.
  • Results available in less than 15 minutes.
Viral RNA

When a virus first enters your body, it starts multiplying, and you may or may not have symptoms.

Antigen

As the virus multiplies, the body begins to react to the viral antigens, possibly resulting in symptoms.

Antibody

As your body starts to fight off infection, your immune system produces IgM and IgG antibodies.

EVERY TEST HAS A ROLE

Testing has now become part of our daily conversation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There are many different types of respiratory diagnostic tests that can be used to test for the flu, COVID-19, RSV, and strep throat.

TYPES OF TESTS AND TERMS TO KNOW

rapid-icon
RAPID MOLECULAR TESTS (ISOTHERMAL/PCR TECHNOLOGY)

Rapid molecular tests detect viral RNA or DNA with results available in minutes.

  • Performed via a nasal or throat swab
  • Used at the point of care by a trained professional including doctors’ offices, urgent care, emergency departments, and pharmacies
  • Provide results in less than 13 minutes
module-2
Molecular PCR test

Molecular PCR tests detect viral RNA or DNA and are conducted in a lab.

  • Performed via a nasal, nasopharyngeal or throat swab
  • Samples sent to a lab to run on a larger instrument together with higher volumes of patient samples.
  • Results are typically available in 1-3 days
module-2
Rapid Antigen Test

Detects active infection by identifying a protein from the virus or bacteria that causes that infection.

  • Performed via nasal or throat swab
  • Can be used at doctors' offices, urgent care, emergency rooms, pharmacy clinics, or bought at retailers for self testing.
  • Results available in less than 15 minutes.
viral-rna-icon
Viral RNA

When a virus first enters your body, it starts multiplying, and you may or may not have symptoms.

antigen-icon
Antigen

As the virus multiplies, the body begins to react to the viral antigens, possibly resulting in symptoms.

antibody-icon
Antibody

As your body starts to fight off infection, your immune system produces IgM and IgG antibodies.

Background image
Background image
read more about rapid
molecular testing
image image image

Sign up for Rapid Insights, our email series on rapid molecular testing

This program will teach you about rapid tests and how they can quickly identify illnesses like the flu, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and strep throat. Rapid testing can help you get treated earlier and get well sooner.

image image image

ALL ABOUT RESPIRATORY ILLNESS

Learn about respiratory illnesses and the advanced molecular test technology that offers fast and accurate results. Knowing now means you’ll be treated earlier which can help you get well sooner.

image image image

Discover ID NOW™ rapid molecular testing

ID NOWTM rapid molecular instrument provides your healthcare professional with timely results, that can inform your treatment, which may include antivirals or antibiotics, so you can get well sooner.

References

1. Azar, Marwan M., Marie L. Landry. “Detection of Influenza A and B Viruses and Respiratory Syncytial Virus by Use of Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA)-Waived Point-of-Care Assays: A Paradigm Shift to Molecular Tests.” Journal of Clinical Microbiology 56, no. 7 (July 2018): e00367-18. https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.00367-18.  

2. Merckx, Joanna, et al. “Diagnostic Accuracy of Novel and Traditional Rapid Tests for Influenza Infection Compared With Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Annals of Internal Medicine 167, no. 6 (September 19, 2017): 394-409. https://doi.org/10.7326/M17-0848.

3. Franck, Kristina T., et al. “Evaluation of Immuview RSV Antigen Test (SSI Siagnostica) and BinaxNOW RSV Card (Alere) for Rapid Detection of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Retrospectively and Prospectively Collected Respiratory Samples.” Journal of Medical Virology 92, no. 12 (December 2020): 2992-2998. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.26369.

4. Cohen, Jérémie F., et al. “Rapid Antigen Detection Test for Group A Streptococcus in Children With Pharyngitis (Review).” Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, no. 7, article no. CD010502, (2016). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD010502.pub2.

5. “ID Now Influenza A & B 2 Quick Reference Instructions.” Abbott, 2020.

6. “ID Now RSV Quick Reference Instructions.” Abbott, 2020.

7. “ID Now Strep A 2 Quick Reference Instructions.” Abbott, 2020.

8. Hagen, Ashley. “COVID-19 Testing FAQs.” American Society for Microbiology. August 19, 2021. https://asm.org/Articles/2020/April/COVID-19-Testing-FAQs.

9. “Alere i Strep A 2 Package Insert.” Alere, 2018.

10. Shuren, Jeffrey E. “Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Takes Steps to Streamline Path for COVID-19 Screening Tools, Provides Information to Help Groups Establishing Testing Programs.” Food and Drug Administration. March 16, 2021. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-takes-steps-streamline-path-covid-19-screening-tools-provides.

11. Pfeil, Johannes, et al. “Screening for Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Isolation Strategies in Children Hospitalized with Acute Respiratory Tract Infection.” Medicine 93, no. 25 (November 2014):e144. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000000144.