Med question about the quick H5N1 test

Hi all

My concern in posting this is that it seems reasonable to me to suppose that isolating H5N1 infections from seasonal flu infections is a good aim, especially as we hope for a while longer to prepare and so want to keep these viruses from fooling around. We always hear about a quick test that's used on fowl that doesn't discriminate between low path and high path avian influenza. I wonder if this test is available for use at admittance in hospitals and clinics?

kparcell, I don't have an answer but am bumping this back up hoping someone who can will answer your question.
I also have questions on how the recommended way to test for H5N1 varies between one goverment document and another.
Good luck.

Good idea?

H5N1 clusters are familial, suggesting an unrecognized genetic component. Such a mechanism could account for why the Spanish Flu suddenly disappeared: It reached most susceptible. So, shouldn't our prep plan include non-family care for the sick? Isn't holing up with the family the wrong approach?

A quick test at "flu centers" could separate H5N1 from seasonal flu and send seasonal flu home, keeping H5N1 suspects isolated from more contagious viruses and from family.