Luckily, a new at-home diagnostic test offers a solution.
It requires self-collected nasal swab samples and provides results in about 30 minutes.
If you test positive for either flu or COVID-19, you should take precautions to avoid spreading the disease.
Lucira Health
Purchase From the Manufacturers Website
At present, the test is only available onLuciras website.
Given their bankruptcy, the roll-out of the new COVID-19 and flu test might be affected.
But theyre not the same kind of tests.
At-home COVID-19 tests are usuallyantigen tests, which means they detect the presence of a specific viral antigen.
You swirl the sample swab in a vial and place it in the test unit.
For COVID-19, it identified 100% of negative and 88.3% of positive COVID-19 samples.
NAAT is more sensitive than standard at-home tests and less likely to yield a false negative, Shishido said.
The practice of testing twice for COVID-19 to improve testing accuracy generally applies to antigen tests.
Knowing that you are infected allows you to take precautions and reduce the spread of the virus.
Refrain from going to crowded places to avoid spreading whatever illness is causing your sickness.
There are a lot of viruses and bacteria that can cause influenza-like illness, Pekosz said.
Its always good to be cautious and not go out if you arent feeling well.
Even so, Luciras test will be able to detect that.
For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.
Food and Drug Administration.FDA authorizes first over-the-counter at-home test to detect both influenza and COVID-19 viruses.
Food and Drug Administration.Flu: what to do if you get sick.
