xTAG®

Take comfort in answers to
your most common questions about flu

FAQs

Q. What does it mean if an influenza virus is described as an “H1N1 flu”?

A. There are many different versions of the influenza virus. H1N1 is a particular version of the influenza A virus. “H1N1” refers to the specific versions of two proteins that the virus strain carries. The “swine flu” is a particular sub-type of H1N1 flu, but most H1N1 viruses are not swine flu. See the Types of respiratory viruses page for more details.

Q. What is swine flu? Can I get it from eating pork?

A. “Swine flu” is the name given to a new form of InfluenzaA/H1N1. Its symptoms are similar to those of normal flu, but sometimes they can be more severe or lead to more serious complications. It was named “swine flu” because the virus was first seen in pigs, but most people who catch it now get it from another person, not a pig. The swine flu virus is not transmitted by food, so you won’t get it by handling or eating pork products. For more information on swine flu, see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s site at flu.gov.

Q. Can I get vaccinated against swine flu?

A. Vaccine companies around the world are working to develop and test a swine flu vaccine. Please see the US Department of Health and Human Services’ site for the latest information about swine flu vaccine development and distribution.

Q. If I have a respiratory infection, is there any way to tell which bacteria or viruses might be causing it?

A. There are several different tests your doctor might use. Some can be done while you wait in your doctor’s office, while others can take several days to give a result. Learn more about the different tests on the Which test is right for me? page.

Q. Why is it important to know what type of infection I have?

A. Knowing what kind of infection you have is important because it will affect how your doctor treats your illness. If you know that the infection is caused by bacteria, your doctor can prescribe an appropriate antibiotic. If you know that the infection is viral, antibiotics won’t work and your doctor might give you an antiviral medication. Also, knowing which particular virus you have (or don’t have) can affect other measures you might have to take. For example, patients with swine flu are often put in isolation so they don’t infect others. But if a test showed that you had a normal seasonal influenza and not swine flu, you may not have to take that precaution.
 

Q. Why is it important to know what virus I may have by the next day?

A. Fast results are important because many antiviral drugs, including Tamiflu and Relenza, are most effective if given within the first 48 hours of illness. So having a next-day result is important for hitting that window of opportunity. 

Q. My doctor did a test while I waited in her office. Does a negative result mean I don’t have a virus?

A. Not necessarily. Although rapid tests can give you a quick answer, it isn’t always reliable. In some cases, the test will give a negative result even if you do have the virus it’s testing for. Also, a rapid test can only check for one or two different types of virus at a time. So if your doctor did a test for influenza virus that came out negative, you could still have a different virus. Almost 90% of respiratory viral infections are caused by viruses other than the influenza virus¹.

Reference:

1. Mahony J., et al. Establishing the Epidemiology of Respiratory Virus Infections Using Molecular Technology, Poster presented at the 107th ASM Meeting. 

Glossary

Antibiotics: Medications that fight bacterial infections. They are not effective against viral infections.

Antivirals: Medications that fight viral infections (e.g., the flu). They are not effective against bacterial infections.

Bacterium: A type of single-celled microorganism. Although most types of bacteria are harmless or even beneficial to people, some kinds can cause infections and disease.

Bronchiolitis: Inflammation of the small airways of the lungs (bronchioles).

Bronchitis: Inflammation of the larger airways of the lungs (bronchi).

Conjunctivitis: Also known as pinkeye, an inflammation of the eye’s outer membrane (conjunctiva).

Croup: A respiratory disease that occurs most frequently in young children. Its symptoms include fever, difficulty breathing, and a harsh, barking cough.

Culture: The process of growing a microbiological agent (e.g., bacteria or viruses) in the lab.

Hemagglutinin: One of the important proteins found on the outside coat of an influenza virus.

Immunization: A process in which a small amount of an inactive virus (or other infectious agent) is introduced into the body to “train” the immune system to fight off that infectious agent.

Infectious disease: A disease that can be passed from one person to another. Many infectious diseases are caused by bacteria or viruses.

Inflammation: One of the body’s responses to injury or infection. An inflamed tissue gets swollen, painful, red, and hot.

Neuraminidase: One of the important proteins found on the outside coat of an influenza virus.

Pandemic: An outbreak of infectious disease across many different regions of the world.

Pneumonia: Inflammation of the lungs. It is most commonly caused by bacteria, viruses, or other infectious agents.

Rhinovirus: The virus that causes the common cold.

SARS: Severe acute respiratory syndrome. The SARS virus caused a pandemic in late 2002 through July 2003.

Sputum: Also known as phlegm, the mucus and other matter brought up from the lungs by coughing. Sputum cultures are often done to look for bacterial infection in the lungs.

Vaccine: A partial or inactive form of a virus (or other infectious agent) used for immunization.

Virus: A microbiological entity that reproduces inside the cells of a living thing. Viruses are responsible for many infectious diseases, including influenza and the common cold.

xTAG RVP: A comprehensive molecular diagnostic test, which is FDA cleared and detects 12 respiratory viruses and subtypes.  Consult your physician.