Diagnosis of Flu

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A diagnosis is usually made by the person with flu or their G.P. based on the characteristic symptoms. It is unusual for any other diagnostic tests to be necessary unless there are complications.

The G.P. cannot normally say exactly which virus is causing the â€˜flu-likeâ€™ symptoms.The main role of laboratory diagnosis is to identify the main circulating types and strains of the flu virus. To do this, a viral culture is necessary. It is taken from the nose or throat using a swab.

If some other disease is suspected (e.g. malaria in a person who has recently travelled to a malaria area), then other tests or a referral may be necessary.