Just about everyone has come down with the flu at least a few times in their lives. Even with the flu shot it is impossible to be completely protected. This is because there are many different viruses that can cause the flu, and each year the flu shot is only made to help provide protection against a few of the most likely causes. Getting the flu is certainly no pleasant experience, but most people will be able to get through it after a week or so. For those who are immunocompromised in some way, however, the flu can be very life threatening. This is why it is so important to have a virus-specific treatment plan that can help provide you with the fastest recovery possible. Here at our Linden, NJ laboratory we have a parainfluenza virus test that can identify the exact virus type that is causing you to be sick. The test looks at a variety of different viruses, including the parainfluenza strains, so that you and your doctors will have all the information needed to make a plan of action.
When people are sick they often simply say that they have the flu, even though that is not always accurate. Sometimes the illness is caused by a flu virus, but other times it is bacterial or microbial or caused by any number of other things. If the doctors do not know the root cause of a particular illness, they cannot provide an effective treatment plan. Sometimes, for example, they will prescribe antibiotics thinking that it is a bacteria that is causing your symptoms. While antibiotics are very effective against bacteria, they will do nothing to cure you of a viral infection such as the flu. In addition, there are many types of viruses and different medications that can help you fight them. If you don't know which virus is causing the problem, however, you can't get a virus-specific treatment plan. As you can see, having the specific cause of your illness can give your doctor a lot of options that wouldn't otherwise be there. Since our parainfluenza virus test is so quick and easy, it just makes sense to have it done when you believe you have the flu. This is especially true if you have some other condition that may make getting the flu more serious than it otherwise would be.
If you or a loved one is sick and you think it may be the flu, make sure you give us a call to schedule an appointment for a parainfluenza virus test today. The test is fast and painless, and since we analyze it right at our Linden, NJ laboratory we can get you the results extremely quickly. We can even have the results sent directly to your doctor or a specialist of your choice so they can get an effective treatment plan in place right away. While the flu still won't be a fun experience, it will last much longer and be much less dangerous if you know exactly what you're fighting against.