Swine Flu Rapid Testing

ATLANTA (AP) - The government’s first study of how well rapid
tests diagnose swine flu finds they’re wrong at least half the
time.
    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at rapid
tests made by three companies. The tests correctly confirmed swine
flu infections only 10 percent to 51 percent of the time. The tests
were better at diagnosing seasonal flu.
    What should doctors do if a test comes back negative for a
patient they think has the flu? The CDC says doctors should order a
more precise lab test but in the meantime prescribe medicines like
Tamiflu.
    The results of the study were released Thursday.