I’m the director of Clinical Virology and Vice Chair of Practice in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic. I’m the past-President of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology and specialize in the diagnosis of infectious diseases, such as Covid-19 and influenza. In 2020, my laboratory was one of the first in the United States to develop a molecular test to detect Covid-19. I specialize in infectious diseases and novel diagnostics to detect them.
In the U.S., the fall months typically bring more than just cooler temperatures, colorful leaves and football games. It’s also the start of the respiratory virus season, meaning that millions will come down with a nasty cold or the flu. While Covid-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus all have the potential to cause serious disease, the early symptoms are often mild and indistinguishable, and may include a cough, sore throat, runny nose and body aches.
The overlapping symptoms and potential differences in treatment make a diagnosis important. So when should you take a test, and what type of tests should be used?test kit at home on September 29, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. Australians will be able to use rapid antigen tests from November 1, following approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration . After three-and-a-half years since the pandemic began, almost everyone has taken an at-home Covid-19 test.
In most cases, however, you’ll need to see your healthcare provider so a swab can be sent to a lab for PCR testing. Many lab-based PCRs test for influenza and RSV in the same test, and in some cases, Covid-19 as well. Getting tested for these viruses is important since the treatment may differ depending on the virus causing the infection.
If the results of your Covid-19, influenza and RSV tests are negative, it’s important to remember that other viruses can cause a cold-like illness. These include rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, and human metapneumovirus. So as we head into the fall and winter months, the best steps you can take to stay healthy are to wash your hands, wear a mask when in public, and get vaccinated against influenza, RSV , and Covid-19. And as always, stay home if you’re sick.
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