Tests can be obtained from pharmacies that can detect the corona virus, rs virus and influenza. Is it worth doing one?
The coronavirus is now booming all over Finland and takes people to hospital.
At the same time as the coronavirus infections, the flu season rears its head. There has even been talk from the triple epidemicwhen the spread of the rs virus is added to the disease mill.
In response to overlapping epidemics, a home test that screens for both the coronavirus and the influenza virus has been developed. Double tests that appeared in pharmacies a year ago promise to diagnose the disease caused by the A and B influenza virus and the corona virus. There are also triple tests that identify the disease caused by the rs virus in addition to the flu and the corona virus.
Many people remember the corona virus home tests from the worst pandemic times, which could sometimes be given conflicting results.
So what about the reliability of the double test or triple test?
Health and the leading expert of the Swedish Welfare Institute (THL). Niina Ikonen does not take a direct stand on how accurately the new home tests work.
“Regarding corona tests, we know that it has proven to be a sensitive test. It detects the infection best when only a few days have passed since the onset of symptoms. Regarding influenza, there is no experience with the sensitivity of the test.”
Ikonen points out that the contracted disease and vaccines provide immune protection. Therefore, in such a situation, there may not be enough virus on the mucous membranes that could be caught on the sampling stick of the home test. Then the test result may appear negative, even if the virus is present in the body.
Instead of staring at the lines that appear on the test cassette, he urges you to listen to your own feelings.
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“A negative test does not give you a get out of jail free card.”
The home test that identifies influenza and rs virus is also similar to the traditional corona test; the sample stick is rotated in the nostrils, moistened in the test solution and finally drops of the test sample are added to the sample well of the test cassette.
“A negative test does not give you a get out of jail card. For some, the home test gives a positive result quickly, for others it may take a few days. You shouldn’t go to work, school or hobbies if you have symptoms.”
According to Ikonen, a fundamentally healthy person does not need information about whether he is currently suffering from the flu or the corona virus. The most important thing is to stay sick at home and avoid outside contacts.
Of course, you can still take the test if you want to. There is no harm in that.
“Coronavirus today is one respiratory virus among others. Getting it does not lead to any separate measures such as quarantine,” says Ikonen.
In the University Pharmacies a spike has been observed in the sales of various corona tests since the beginning of October, says the pharmaceutical director Kati Vuorikallas. The traditional coronavirus home test sells the most. Its turnover is multiple times compared to double and triple tests.
“Autumn and winter are the time of epidemics, and it can be seen in the increase in the number of tests.” Vuorikallas says.
Corona home tests were sometimes in short supply during the pandemic years. There is no such thing now, says Vuorikallas. Both individual corona tests and tests for influenza and rs virus are widely available.
Vuorikallas describes the double and triple tests as being similar to the traditional home test for the coronavirus. The sample is taken from the nose, and it is important to perform it carefully according to the instructions on the package.
Part of people belong to risk groups susceptible to corona virus, influenza or rs virus.
According to Ikonen, a person belonging to a risk group could theoretically benefit from the knowledge of a positive home test result, because a doctor can consider starting drug treatment for a person belonging to a risk group. Thus, a positive test result could give an impetus to seek a doctor’s office.
Negative test result for both influenza, rs virus and corona virus.
“But even the medical treatment is always decided by the doctor. A positive home test result alone does not guarantee medical treatment,” says Ikonen.
Even in double and triple tests, there is the possibility that no line appears on the test cassette, even if the symptoms are clear. It can also happen that a person gets sick with the flu and the corona virus one after the other or consecutively.
“Any virus can cause symptoms. The disease picture varies from mild to severe in all of the now rampant infections. The most important thing is to contact healthcare if the symptoms are severe or the general condition worsens.”
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