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ARUP Consult® has timely resources on influenza viruses, COVID-19, and RSV.
’Tis the season for sniffles. Whether it’s the flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19, respiratory viruses are currently circulating at high levels. According to the CDC, cases of influenza continue to increase and are elevated across most of the United States. COVID-19 cases are increasing, and RSV cases are very high in many areas of the U.S., especially in young children. Because the symptoms of influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 can be similar and treatment options differ, laboratory testing may be necessary to determine which virus is causing the infection and how to best help the patient.
ARUP Consult®, a free source of expert guidance in laboratory testing, has timely resources on influenza viruses, COVID-19, and RSV to help clinicians order the right test at the right time.
The ARUP Consult Influenza Virus topic has been updated to include information on who should be tested for influenza A (H5) virus, also known as H5N1 or bird flu, and which tests should be performed. At the beginning of January, ARUP Laboratories launched a new assay for the detection and subtyping of influenza A (H5) virus. Although the virus largely affects birds and livestock, recent spillover events in humans, including at least one death in an H5-infected individual, have heightened public awareness of the virus. Although these events are concerning, the number of confirmed human cases in the U.S. remains low, and human-to-human transmission has not been recorded.
“We are in a situation where we need to be alert to the possible threat of [H5], but we have the tools to detect it. We are monitoring it and have been proactive in preparing a laboratory response,” said Benjamin Bradley, MD, PhD, ARUP medical director of the Institute for Research and Innovation in Infectious Disease Genomic Technologies, High Consequence Pathogen Response, Virology, and Molecular Infectious Diseases.
The ARUP Consult Influenza Virus and Respiratory Syncytial Virus topics explain when to cotest for SARS-CoV-2 and cocirculating respiratory viruses. Cotesting can be considered when results would impact clinical management and disease control measures. Testing for RSV should be considered in certain hospitalized populations, including infants, elderly individuals, and immunocompromised individuals.
Although testing for these viruses may not always be necessary per guidelines, ARUP offers quality solutions when testing is recommended. ARUP is committed to providing clinicians with the tools they need to make informed decisions and ensure the best possible care for their patients.
A free educational resource, ARUP Consult is funded entirely by ARUP Laboratories. ARUP medical directors, who are active faculty members at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah and its Department of Pathology, review and contribute to the content on ARUP Consult.
Users can subscribe to receive monthly emails about updates and additions to ARUP Consult. ARUP also welcomes feedback and suggestions via the Feedback page on arupconsult.com.
Bonnie Stray, bonnie.stray@aruplab.com
