I’m really excited to share something groundbreaking that I discovered last week at my local pharmacy. It’s a new test kit that I believe every household should have on hand—especially during flu season! This incredible kit tests for both Flu A and B, as well as COVID-19, all in one.

In recent years, the importance of rapid testing for respiratory illnesses has become increasingly clear. With the ongoing challenges posed by COVID-19 and seasonal flu, having the ability to test at home can be a game-changer.

Just imagine—if we had this four years ago in the clinics when COVID started, we could have tested patients for COVID and the flu simultaneously, right when they walked in. It would have made such a difference in diagnosing and treating people effectively.

Understanding COVID-19 and Influenza

COVID-19 and influenza (flu) are both contagious respiratory illnesses that can share similar symptoms. Knowing which illness that you are dealing with can significantly impact treatment decisions and public health measures. It also helps figure out which antivirals you may need if you are high risk (Paxlovid for COVID vs Tamiflu for the flu, for example). Even more important is knowing if it’s viral versus bacterial, thus avoiding one of the most difficult patient encounters every family doctor deals with: trying to convince a sick patient that they don’t need the expected antibiotic prescription for their “obvious” bacterial sinus infection (it’s the green snot clue, of course, another medical myth I’ve written about).

The New COVID+FLU Test Kits

There are now multiple versions available over the counter, in your local pharmacies and also via Amazon; you can buy the CorDx version here, this is the one I tried. But, I just read a fantastic review from independent lab consumerlab.com, they actually test many items like Consumer Reports does. They just tested all off the COVID-FLU kits and say the Flowflex Plus is most accurate, and the CorDx (the one I got) is a close second. The popular iHealth one wasn’t as good, and OSOM was dead last. Note that consumerlab.com is a paid website but I think it’s totally worth it if you purchase a lot of supplements. 

Benefits of the COVID+FLU Test Kit

Quick Results

I love these for my family as well as for my patients. With a fast turnaround time, you can know whether you have COVID-19 or the flu within 15 minutes. This immediacy allows for quicker decision-making regarding treatment and isolation. It’s so much better than the hours it would take getting to and from a doctor’s office — that’s assuming they even have a rapid test there.

Cost Savings

By using this test kit, you can potentially save hundreds of dollars by avoiding unnecessary doctor visits. For example, instead of calling me when you have symptoms and think you need antibiotics for a “sinusitis”, you can do this test first. If positive for either one, you know you don’t have a bacterial infection and don’t need antibiotics, and really would only need to talk to a doc to review supportive care. (Check out my video below explaining the best decongestants to help runny nose.)

Conclusion

The new COVID+FLU test kit is a must-have for every household. With its ability to provide quick and accurate results for both COVID-19 and the flu, it empowers individuals to take control of their health. By reducing the need for doctor visits, it also offers significant cost savings. Don’t wait—head to your local pharmacy or check online to add this invaluable tool to your home health arsenal today!

More information

You can see my video below about this test. Also read an article about preventing COVID and flu for kids.