SA Pathology is stepping up testing for flu and other viruses this winter, allowing more people to be tested for multiple respiratory viruses at the same time.
Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Chris Picton said South Australians could go to any of the SA Pathology drive-through testing sites with a GP referral and be tested for 12 different viruses, including influenza, RSV and COVID-19.
“The multi-virus (multiplex) testing is geared towards at-risk groups to ensure they can access COVID or flu treatments quickly,” Mr Picton said.
“Referrals can also be made through telehealth appointments,” he said.
“SA Pathology has now doubled the number of multi-virus tests it can process per day, from 500 to 1,000 – but there is capacity for more tests to be processed depending on the number of COVID-only tests per day.”
Clinical Service Director at SA Pathology, Dr Sophia Otto said the approach would ensure there was ready access to multiplex testing in South Australia while also maintaining current laboratory capacity for COVID-19 population testing.
Dr Otto said the 12 viruses tested for were Adenovirus, Bordetella pertussis, Influenza A, Influenza B, Human metapneumovirus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Parainfluenza 1, Parainfluenza 2, Parainfluenza 3, Rhinovirus, Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).
Chief Public Health Officer, Nicola Spurrier said if people had symptoms and were in a high-risk group that would benefit from flu treatments, they should speak to their GP about a combined COVID-19 and flu test.
“This will ensure that you can access COVID-19 or flu treatments quickly,” Professor Spurrier said.
“It is important that your doctor is involved with this extended testing to facilitate access to treatment if necessary,” she said.
