New flu test slashes waiting time to two hours

A new flu test developed by NSW researchers can tell patients if they have the virus in just two hours.

Previous tests for influenza have taken up to 24 hours until results are known but the new one can slash the wait to just two hours.

Capable of diagnosing the two most common flu strains – influenza A and B – it’s been trialled in hospital emergency departments across Sydney by researchers from Macquarie University.

They found 67 per cent of patients received their results before leaving hospital and reduced the number of patients admitted by 4 per cent.

“It’s a very sensitive test. It’s very reliable and therefore we think it’s going to replace in a lot of situations the testing we used to do before,” Professor Dominic Dwyer, of Macquarie University, told 9News.

Early detection of the flu virus is crucial because antiviral drugs, such as Tamiflu, only work if given within 48 hours of early symptoms appearing.

Doctors say starting a patient on medication early can help stop the spread of the virus.

The rapid testing is now available at 23 hospitals in NSW.

But health authorities maintain the best advice for flu sufferers is to cover their mouth when coughing and rest at home when unwell.