Flu Treatment and Influenza A and B Testing Are Available at South Tampa Immediate Care in Tampa, FL

Influenza A and B testing is sometimes used to confirm a flu diagnosis. In most cases, a physician at South Tampa Immediate Care in Tampa, Florida, can diagnose the flu based on a patient’s symptoms alone, particularly when those symptoms occur during the height of flu season. A lab test is usually unnecessary.

With that said, many bacterial infections can produce flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills, coughing, nasal congestion, body aches, and fatigue. If there is any uncertainty with regard to the source of a patient’s symptoms, a lab test can verify that the root cause is the influenza virus rather than a bacterial infection. Influenza A and B testing can help a patient avoid unnecessary antibiotic treatment, which is ineffective for addressing viral infections such as the flu.

Why isn’t influenza A and B testing performed in all cases?

If, based on a thorough clinical assessment, a physician feels certain that a patient’s symptoms are caused by the flu, there is usually no need to order a lab test, which can potentially delay the patient’s treatment. This is important because the antiviral drugs that are used to treat the flu are most effective when administered early on. If a patient is diagnosed with the flu within 48 after his or her symptoms first appear, flu treatment can provide prompt relief and even shorten the illness by a day or two. But, the antiviral drugs won’t provide much help if they are administered two or more days after the onset of the symptoms.

At South Tampa Immediate Care, we recommend influenza A and B testing on a case-by-case basis when we believe it is likely to yield clinically useful results that will help with diagnostic and treatment decisions. If you’re feeling under the weather, feel free to stop by the South Tampa Immediate Care walk-in clinic in Tampa, FL – and come sooner rather than later. We can evaluate your symptoms and recommend appropriate diagnostic testing and treatment to help you feel better fast.