Key points
- Certain types of influenza tests can determine if you are infected with an influenza A virus that causes avian influenza A(H5) virus infection (H5 bird flu).
- Influenza testing can help to inform decisions about treating your illness and whether you should take certain actions to lower the chances of spreading the virus to others.
- Your local health department or health care provider may be able to discuss options for influenza A(H5) virus testing.
- People of all ages who get bird flu symptoms after exposure to avian influenza A (H5) virus infected or potentially infected birds, dairy cows, or other animals should be evaluated by a healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Who should get tested
People who have H5 bird flu symptoms and who have had recent exposure to A(H5) virus infected (or suspected to be infected) birds, dairy cows, other animals, animal byproducts (e.g., raw milk) or sick people should be tested.
Recent exposures can include the following:
- Direct or close exposure to live, sick, or dead birds, cows, or other animals, with confirmed avian influenza A(H5) virus infection. The closer you are to an infected animal or contaminated environment, the more likely you are to become infected. Animal exposures can include, but are not limited to, handling, caring for, slaughtering, defeathering, butchering, culling, or preparing birds or other animals for consumption, or working in a milking parlor, or consuming uncooked or undercooked food or related uncooked food products, including unpasteurized (raw) milk.
- Direct contact with surfaces contaminated with feces, unpasteurized (raw) milk or other unpasteurized dairy products, or bird or animal parts (e.g., carcasses, internal organs) from infected birds or other animals.
- Visiting a venue where confirmed novel influenza A virus infections have been identified in animals (such as a live bird market, agricultural fair, or farm) or a venue that has been associated with a confirmed case of human infection with novel influenza A virus.
- Exposure to an infected person (e.g., in a household or healthcare facility).
- Laboratory exposure
People who do not have symptoms, but who had a higher risk exposure may also be offered testing by their state or local health department as part of ongoing public health investigations.
Why get tested
There are tests that can specifically detect avian influenza A(H5) virus infections. Early diagnosis of influenza virus infection and prompt antiviral treatment can help reduce some complications of H5 bird flu and reduce the risk of transmitting influenza A(H5) virus to close contacts.
People who become sick within 10 days of their exposure should isolate away from others as much as possible, including household members, until they test negative for influenza A(H5) virus infection.
Treatment of Bird Flu
People with symptoms might be prescribed antiviral treatment with oseltamivir before testing results are available.
People without symptoms who test positive for influenza A(H5) may also be prescribed antiviral treatment with oseltamivir. People with recent exposures who tested positive for A(H5) virus while asymptomatic and who develop bird flu signs or symptoms while receiving flu antivirals for treatment or post-exposure prophylaxis, should be isolated, and tested again for influenza A(H5) virus.
When to get tested
People who have had a recent exposure to influenza A(H5) virus (including people wearing the recommended personal protective equipment (PPE)) should monitor for signs and symptoms of acute respiratory illness beginning after their first exposure and for 10 days after their last exposure. People with specific signs and symptoms AND recent exposure (within 10 days) to influenza A(H5) virus should be tested.
How to get tested
- Reach out to your local health department and your health care provider for H5 bird flu testing.
- If you are a person with a disability, the can help you access a test.
- Testing first involves collection of a respiratory specimen (e.g., nasopharyngeal swab, combined nasal swab-throat swab) or conjunctival specimen.
- After clinical specimens have been taken, the swabs are sent to a public health laboratory for specialized H5 bird flu testing.
- Some commercial testing is available through LabCorp, Quest, and Associated Regional and University Pathologists, Inc. (ARUP).
- ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø is working to expand the availability of commercial testing for H5 bird flu.
Testing results
Your local health department will contact you with your results and next steps following testing.
- Antiviral treatment should not be delayed while waiting for laboratory testing results.