Diagnosis

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There are a number of laboratory tests available which will confirm the diagnosis of influenza. The virus may be cultured from swabs of your deep nasal passages or throat, or blood tests may confirm a rise in your antibody to the virus, indicating a recent infection. These tests require specialized laboratory services and may not be readily available nor practical in your physician's office practice setting. So called "rapid diagnostic tests" have been or are being developed which may eventually combine accurate diagnosis of influenza with the simplicity of office testing.

Usually your physician will make the diagnosis of influenza based on your symptoms and physical examination findings. During epidemics of influenza, this presumptive diagnosis will be very accurate. However, if there is concern about the diagnosis, your physician may wish to perform other tests, for example, a blood count or a chest x-ray.