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Reviewed By: Varnada Karriem-Norwood,
SOURCES: 2008 Medical Reference from Medstar. Devang Doshi, MD, Pulmonologist; Mark Kolins, MD, Clinical Pathologist, Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI.
© 1999-2011 Medstar Television
It's that time of year…
Woman sneezes
Cold and flu season, when many of us turn to a doctor for symptom relief. But experts say be careful what you wish for.
Many, many patients still do believe that antibiotics treat the common cold or viral infections. Often times they come in asking for antibiotics.
Antibiotics only kill bacterial infections. They're useless against viruses and misusing them creates resistant superbugs.
If we could limit the use, I think we'd be better off.
That's the goal of the xTAG Respiratory Virus Panel, or R-V-P – a test that can identify, within hours, the viruses that cause the most common respiratory infections.
By doing it this rapidly, we're able to get the patient on the proper therapy. If it indeed is a viral infection, we can eliminate using antibiotics and get the patient, if appropriate, on appropriate anti-viral therapy.
First doctors swab the patient's nose or throat. In the lab, technicians extract and process the speciman's D-N-A. Then, using molecular technology, the R-V-P test analyzes and labels the information. If it is a virus causing the problem, a special laser pinpoints the patient's specific type.
So, having the ability of identifying the pathogen and showing them it is truly, in fact a virus, would hopefully limit our use of antibiotics.
For WebMD, I'm Damon Meharg.
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