Speedier test to identify flu strains wins approval

The government approved a new genetic test for the flu virus Tuesday that will allow labs across the country to identify flu strains within four hours instead of four days.

The time-saving test could be crucial if a deadly new strain emerges, federal health officials said. The new test also could help doctors make better treatment decisions during a conventional flu season.

The test was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Applied Biosystems Inc. of Foster City, Calif. The Food and Drug Administration approved the test kit Tuesday, and state health labs are expected to start using it this fall.

CDC officials celebrated it as a potential lifesaver, especially if the nation is hit by a pandemic of bird flu or some other mutant influenza.

“We’ll now be able to detect influenza in the community faster, which allows us to take steps more quickly to protect and save lives,” CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding said in a prepared statement.

The CDC is requiring labs to buy Applied Biosystems equipment to run the test, and the CDC will provide the necessary chemicals. From 20 to 30 state labs should be up and running by the end of the year, CDC officials said.

Until now, the tests used by different states varied. “It’s good to use the same method so the results will translate from state to state, and CDC can better understand what’s happening,” said Pete Shult, who oversees infectious disease testing at Wisconsin’s state laboratory.