Useful For

This test is recommended for use for the following groups of patients, per Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA):

• Patients at high risk for complications from respiratory infection, including infants, immunocompromised persons, and others (detailed below) who present with respiratory illness requiring hospitalization.
• Patients who present with acute onset of respiratory symptoms with or without fever, and/or either exacerbation of chronic medical conditions (eg. asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], heart failure) or known complications of respiratory viral infection (eg. pneumonia).  Testing should be considered if the testing result may influence clinical management.
• Patients not at high risk for complications who present with influenza-like illness, pneumonia, or nonspecific respiratory illness and who are likely to be discharged home, if the results might influence antiviral treatment decisions or reduce use of unnecessary antibiotics, further diagnostic testing, and time in the emergency department, or if the results might influence antiviral treatment or chemoprophylaxis decisions for high-risk household contacts.