H1N1 Test

“H1N1 laboratory test costs $250 and the Ministry of Health (MOH) will absorb the test.” This was the official reply by the Director of Corporate communications for Ministry of Health in response to the few queries in the press about H1N1 tests.

It is not a simple task to assess if someone has been infected by H1N1. Several tests have to be conducted first to detect if the virus is Influenza A. After the virus is confirmed to be Influenza A, it needs to be subtype (H3 or H1) before the specific strain could be identified. The laboratory uses PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) method for the H1N1 test. When the samples have low virus concentrations other tests may need to be carried out. The H1N1 takes several hours and is done only by specialized laboratories.

The commercial laboratory like Quest labs do not offer H1N1 tests at the moment. What they offer are tests to help doctors identify if the person is suffering from Influenza A or B viruses. These tests are only 85% specific and are not 100% accurate.

MOH says the total cost of conducting a H1N1 test is about $250 per patient and it has absorbs the full cost of such laboratory tests.

Patients are however expected to pay for the usual consultation fees and ward charges incurred if they get hospitalised.

Patients with mild flu like symptoms are now advised to visit the Pandemic Preparedness Clinics (PPC) rather than going to the hospitals or call 993 ambulance

The PPC doctors are trained to manage H1N1 patients and there is no need to head straight to the hospitals

In fact, now that H1N1 is so prevalent, it becomes more of an academic exercise to get the test done. In most of the cases it is really quite unnecessary to get tested for H1N1.

Patient however has to pay the normal attendance fees at the hospital emergency department and ward charges if they are hospitalised.

If you are normally healthy and do not have any chronic conditions such as like diabetes, heart problems, asthma or cancer, all you need is plenty of rest, drink more water and wait for the body to fight it out.

Patients who have lower immune system such as those suffering from diabetes, obesity, heart problems, asthma or cancer may require treatment with antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu or Relenza.