Rapid flu test could save lives and slash needless hospital admissions, study finds

Researchers have called for the test to be rolled out nationally after a successful trial in four emergency departments in New South Wales.

The rapid Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) swab test can produce an influenza diagnosis up to 24 hours quicker than a conventional flu test.

The findings, which were published in the Australian Medical Journal on Monday, found that almost 70 per cent of patients who were tested using rapid PCR received their results within two hours and were able to be treated on the spot, while those with a negative result were able to be sent home.

This is compared to less than 2 per cent of patients receiving an accurate flu diagnosis in hospital emergency departments when tested with the conventional test.

But the Australia Medical Association's Victorian president Julian Rait has cautioned that while the study showed promising results - including a reduced number of hospital admissions and fewer microbiology tests - more research was needed.

"Further studies are required to confirm cost-effectiveness and whether it is worthwhile deploying this across all Australian emergency departments," he said.

Both tests use swabs to detect infection in patients, but the rapid PCR test focuses on quickly detecting two of the most-common strains of the virus - influenza A, influenza B - and respiratory syncytial virus, which usually strikes young children.

A conventional flu test typically takes longer because it examines about 16 strains and results are determined in a central laboratory, meaning there is a lengthy turnaround time.

Victoria has experienced one of the biggest summer outbreaks of influenza in history.

Last month, a Victorian child died after contracting influenza in a spike which has seen more than 4000 confirmed cases of flu in the state so far this year. It is more than double the cases recorded by VicHealth at the same time last year.

Nationally, 20,000 cases of the influenza have been reported so far this year, with experts predicting record flu numbers.

Researchers believe the new test has resulted in better outcomes for patients struck down by the flu as they were given critical anti-viral medications faster, therefore stopping the spread of the infection.

For anti-viral treatment to be effective it must be administered within two days of symptoms first appearing.

Patients must also be isolated to prevent putting other people at risk.

As part of the study, the outcomes of more than 3700 patients with flu-like symptoms who presented at four metropolitan emergency departments over two years were analysed.

Researchers first examined the data from 1491 patients who were tested for influenza with a conventional flu test, which takes up to 26 hours to deliver results, between July and December 2016.

They then compared this data with the outcomes of 2250 patients who were tested using rapid PCR, which produces results in just over two hours.

"Our research shows that if patients can be assessed quicker we can prevent hospital admissions andalleviate the pressure on already busy hospitals as well as limit the spread of influenza further by treating patients quickly," the study's lead author Nasir Wabe, from the Australian Institute of Health and Innovation at Macquarie University, said.

"We know that where hospitals use the conventional test and wait up to 26 hours for results, patients can be admitted to hospital and even prescribed treatment before results are determined which leads to hospital resources being used in ways that are not necessary."

Dr Wabe said the findings also pointed to financial savings.

Influenza significantly costs the Australian economy in lost productivity and absenteeism as well ascosts to the health system.

"If patients are able to receive their results quicker, fewer additional tests, such as blood cultures, need to be ordered to diagnose a patient, thereby saving the health system money," he said.