Product Description :

Influenza is a highly contagious, acute, viral infection of the respiratory tract. It is a communicable disease that is easily transmitted through the coughing and sneezing of aerosolized droplets containing live virus. Influenza A and B viruses are members of the genus Influenza virus classified within the family Orthomyxoviridae. The causative agents of the disease are immunologically diverse, single-strand RNA viruses known as influenza viruses. There are three types of influenza viruses: A,B, and C. Type A viruses are the most prevalent and are associated with most serious epidemics. Type B viruses produce a disease that is generally milder than that caused by type A. Type C viruses have never been associated with a large epidemic of human disease. Common symptoms include high fever, chills, headache, cough, sore throat and malaise. The occurrence of influenza follows seasonal patterns unique to the geographical area, but with international travel the disease may become more of a year-round phenomenon. An accurate diagnosis of influenza based on clinical symptoms is difficult because the initial symptoms of influenza are similar to those of numerous other illnesses. Therefore, it can be confirmed only by laboratory diagnostic testing. The Simple Influenza A/B test allows for the rapid, qualitative detection of influenza type A and type B antigens directly from nasal swab, nasopharyngeal swab, nasal aspirate, and nasal wash specimens.