Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology - Medical Testing Laboratory : Swine Flu Information

H1N1 09 (Human Swine Influenza): Laboratory Testing at Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology

Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology Swine Flu Update - Sept 2009

Influenza Respiratory Virus testing Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology.
We wish to advise you that Queensland Health has released new recommendations regarding patient groups for which influenza testing is recommended.
New Testing Recommendations
Now that there is widespread community infection and the predominant strain is Human Swine H1N1, diagnostic testing becomes less useful. The pre-test probability of a patient with a lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) having influenza A and specifically Human Swine H1N1 is very high.
A clinical diagnosis and pre-emptive empirical therapy, if in a vulnerable at risk group, is recommended. Otherwise the patient should be advised to remain quarantined for up to a week after onset of symptoms.
Currently Queensland Health recommendations are to test symptomatic
  1. Pregnant woman
  2. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
  3. Hospitalised patient with respiratory symptoms
  4. Health Care workers.
Non hospitalised patients with chronic illness and LRTI can, in the main, be diagnosed clinically and treated pre-emptively.

Click on the following link to see the complete document from which the above recommendations were taken.
Influenza Respiratory Virus testing Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology 2009