Minor Illnesses

 COVID/Flu/RSV/Rapid Strep

COVID 19, Influenza (flu), RSV and colds have many symptoms in common such as fever, congestion, cough and sore throat. Early testing for proper diagnosis and prompt infection management is recommended for optimal outcomes. 

LifeLine Walk-In Medical & Mental Health Nursing Clinic offers rapid testing for various illnesses. 

COVID 19: (coronavirus disease 2019) is a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This disease is very contagious and is spread by through respiratory droplets transmitted when an infected person coughs, breathes, talks, or sneezes. 

• Rapid antigen testing for symptomatic individuals. Treatment with antiviral medications including Paxlovid is recommended within 5 days of symptom initiation.

• Rapid antigen testing for asymptomatic individuals is offered without a clinical visit. No need to wait in clinic for results! HIPAA compliant official results will be available on patient portal within 1 hour. 

• PCR testing- lab send-out PCR testing with results in 1-2 days. 

RSV: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a contagious and potentially dangerous virus that infects the respiratory tract- nose, throat, and lungs. Anyone can be infected by RSV, however symptoms can be especially severe for young children and older adults. RSV is spread when an infected person coughs, breathes, talks, or sneezes, or by touching surfaces or items covered with the virus. 

Rapid antigen testing is recommended for symptomatic individuals, especially in peak winter months. 

LifeLine Walk In Medical & Mental Health Nursing Clinic offers rapid RT-PCR/NAAT molecular assays to detect RNA or nucleic acids in respiratory specimens with high sensitivity and high specificity. This results in positive detection sooner, thus the clinician can initiate antibiotics or antiviral medications promptly. 

Flu: Influenza virus that is highly contagious and potentially dangerous. It affects the respiratory tract- nose, throat, and lungs and can cause systemic symptoms such as fever and body aches. Influenza can be airborne and infect others directly or indirectly via contact with contaminated surfaces or when an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes. 

Rapid PCR/NAAT Influenza: Highly accurate testing with 93%-97% sensitivity to detect Flu A & B. Antiviral medications such as Tamiflu must be initiated within 2 days of symptoms to be effective. 

Strep Pharyngitis: Strep throat is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the throat and tonsils caused by group A streptococcus bacteria. Symptoms can develop immediately after exposure or within days and include pain with swallowing, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. 

Rapid PCR/NAAT Strep: Highly accurate testing with 98.5% sensitivity to detect group Streptococcus A bacteria. Antibiotics are required to treat this infection.

References:

Batty, M., Mackenzie, C., Deerain, J., Tran, T., Yoga, Y., Druce, J., Williamson, D. A., & Graham, M. (2023). Performance evaluation of Roche and Abbott Panbio multiplex SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A/B rapid antigen tests. Pathology, 55(6), 870–874. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pathol.2023.02.003

Yu, S., Kim, K., Lee, C., Puebla, Y.P., Zabat, G.M.A., Shih, H., Hsueh, P. (2024) Performance evaluation of the Panbio COVID-19/Flu A&B Panel for detection of SARS-CoV-2, influenza A, and influenza B antigens using mid-turbinate nasal swabs. J Clin Microbiol62:e00207-24.https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.00207-24