RENEE MONTAGNE, host: And here's something you can think about while you're waiting for that video to download, no sense in wasting time. Flu season. There's a new genetic test that can detect several different strains of the flu virus in hours, four hours, rather than the days that it takes now. The Centers for Disease Control developed the test. The Food and Drug Administration has approved it. And it says quicker detection could say lives if there's a flu pandemic. The test will show if a flu patient has an existing form of the disease or a new strain. Even during regular flu season, thousands of people die. The test should be available during this year's flu season.
The government this week approved a new genetic test for the flu virus. It will allow labs across the country to identify flu strains within four hours instead of four days. Renee Montagne reports.