Feds Seeking A Few Good Tests, And Masks, For Flu Season

Article perview reprinted from "The Gray Sheet" - August 24, 2009

With an especially challenging flu season expected this year, government officials are scrambling to evaluate the tools they have available to monitor, diagnose and limit spread of the virus. Read more...

Feds Seeking A Few Good Tests, And Masks, For Flu Season

Article perview reprinted from "The Gray Sheet" - August 24, 2009

With an especially challenging flu season expected this year, government officials are scrambling to evaluate the tools they have available to monitor, diagnose and limit spread of the virus.

The influenza A, H1N1 strain that has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization is expected to stage a return engagement at schools and workplaces this fall, on top of standard seasonal strains.

The flu season begins in the fall and peaks in the winter, and cases are expected to spread rapidly, experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention affirm.

CDC posted guidance online this month cautioning that some of the most widely available rapid flu assays are not sensitive enough to rule out the pandemic strain in someone with flu-like symptoms. Also, the agency is expected to revise its guidelines for use of personal protective equipment such as masks and respirators worn by health care workers, due to the growing realization that the equipment is not feasible for routine, effective use.

Some Rapid Tests Show Insufficient Sensitivity

Rapid influenza tests including Inverness Medical's BinaxNow Influenza A&B , Becton Dickinson's Directigen EZ Flu A+B and Quidel's QuickVue Influenza A+B were on the market before the H1N1 pandemic strain hit this past spring, so they are among the most widely distributed.

These tests were not designed to pinpoint the novel strain, but nonetheless experienced notable increases in demand on news of the H1N1 outbreak in part as quick tools to rule out the pandemic strain in the ballooning number of patients presenting with symptoms ('The Gray Sheet' Aug. 3, 2009).

- Sue Darcey

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