Walk-in Rapid Flu Test | AFC Urgent Care Arden

The Rapid Flu Test typically has your results ready in 15 minutes or less.

Rapid Flu Testing is not only quicker than regular influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs) used by other medical facilities, but it is also extremely more accurate. By using a nasal swab, the test is able to detect Influenza Type A and Type B with an accuracy rate of 96.3% and 100%, respectively. Nonetheless, when considering the accuracy of any influenza test, two considerations must be made: Sensitivity and Specificity.

Yes. In 2018, the Infectious Diseases Society of American issued updated guidelines for flu testing that suggested and favored the use of this type of tests over rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs) when it comes to the identification of influenza viruses in outpatients.

In order to ensure optimal flu treatment, prescription anti-virus flu medications like Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) or Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) are most effective if taken within 48 hours of flu symptoms. So a speedy and accurate diagnosis is necessary to enable our medical providers to administer the best treatment.

Common flu signs and symptoms typically include:

• fever or feeling feverish/chills
• cough
• sore throat
• stuffy or runny nose
• body or muscle aches
• headaches
• exhaustion
• fatigue
• vomiting and diarrhea (this is more typical in children than adults)

It’s important to note that most flu symptoms can vary in severity, ranging from mild to severe, and may not always involve a fever. Additionally, some people may not experience any symptoms.

Sensitivity shows how frequently a test will generate an accurate positive result for individuals who have the illness that is being evaluated for (also known as the “true positive” rate). A test that is highly sensitive will not create too many false-negative outcomes and is able to identify almost anyone who has the illness.

Specificity pertains to a test’s ability to precisely determine those who do not have a particular condition (termed as the “true negative” rate). A test with high specificity will correctly identify the majority of individuals without the illness and will generate very few false-positive results.

Our nasal swab flu test has a 96.3% sensitivity when testing for flu type A and 100% sensitivity when testing for flu type B. Our flu test also has a 97.4% specificity in identifying those who do not have flu type A and 97.1% specificity when testing for flu type B.

The Rapid Flu Test at AFC Urgent Care is extremely accurate. It can tell if someone has the flu type A with 96.3% accuracy and only a 2.6% chance of a false positive and a 3.7% chance of a false negative. This flu test can also tell if someone has the flu type B with 100% accuracy with a 2.9% chance of a false negative and no false positive results.