At Little Spurs, we have the capability of testing for the flu. However, the rapid influenza diagnostic test is a relatively new procedure, rising in popularity in the last decade after it was approved by the FDA in 2008. Before, flu was diagnosed based solely on the provider’s assessment of the patient. And in some ways, that is still the best way to diagnose flu. The rapid flu test has a high false positive and negative rate. Studies done by the CDC show that it is accurate about 50% of the time. Therefore, it is important to trust a provider’s assessment in spite of what the rapid test might say.
