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Rapid influenza diagnostic tests provide results in around 20 minutes and cost about US$20. To assess their accuracy, researchers performed a meta-analysis of 159 studies that evaluated a total of 26 different tests. Pooled results showed that the tests were highly specific (98%) but poorly sensitive (62%). Thus, a negative result does not exclude influenza. In subgroup analyses, pooled sensitivity was higher in children than in adults (children have higher viral loads) and for influenza A than for influenza B. Performance did not differ based on which test was used or whether testing was point-of-care or laboratory-based.
In a separate meta-analysis of 75 observational studies, researchers evaluated the safety and efficacy of antiviral trea…