Flu
Alternate Names : Influenza
How is the infection diagnosed?
A history and physical examination is the first step in diagnosing flu. Most of
the time, the healthcare provider can make the diagnosis without further
testing. In some cases, lab tests may be ordered, including:
a culture of samples of discharge taken from the nose or back of the throat
to determine the type of virus
the cold agglutinins test, which measures germ-fighting chemicals that
cause blood to clump at low temperatures
the influenza complement fixation test, which can detect the presence of
disease-fighting chemicals made by the body
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