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Is it flu or COVID? At-home tests can now tell you

By Megan Ziegler
Published  November 18, 2024 9:58am CST
Health
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Image: The OTC Healgen Rapid Check COVID-19/Flu A&B Antigen Test, Healgen via PRNewswire on Oct. 8, 2024. 

The Brief

    • At-home tests that can tell you if you have the flu or COVID-19 are readily available this winter season. 
    • Many different brands are available at major pharmacies and retailers nationwide, as well as online. 
    • The FDA has been giving emergency use authorization to these tests in the last few months, and gave full approval already to one brand this fall. 

A quicker, easier way to diagnose common respiratory illnesses this season is available. 

At-home tests that can tell you if you have the flu or COVID-19 in just one swoop are readily available as the holiday season approaches, cutting out the need for doctor or urgent care visits. 

COVID and flu tests

While symptoms of the flu and COVID are similar and likely indistinguishable, the viruses that cause each illness are different. 

At-home tests that distinguish between the two viruses can tell you which you’re infected with, if either.

Several brands are available in-stores and don’t require a prescription, and some are available online and could be purchased ahead of time this season. 

Look for packaging that says COVID and Flu testing, and some are labeled 3-in-1 as they test for COVID-19, influence A and influenza B. 

Most work like at-home COVID tests and require a nasal swab. Results take 15-30 minutes, depending on the test. 

"Once you know the cause of your illness, you can take the appropriate next steps, like contacting your doctor for treatment options," said Emory University’s Dr. Greg Martin when speaking about how the university helped evaluate the new tests. 

"Both COVID-19 and flu have antiviral treatments that work best when started early, so finding out early which virus you have can help you get the right care quickly."

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted first emergency use authorization for one of these tests, Lucira’s, in February 2023. 

Since then, many other brands have also received emergency use authorization. Last month, the FDA also authorized Healgen’s combination test under the traditional, more rigorous approval process. 

RELATED: FDA approves combination flu-COVID test for home use

Flu vs. COVID symptoms

Compared with flu, COVID-19 can cause more severe illness in some people. 

Compared to people who get the flu, people infected with COVID may take longer to show symptoms and may be contagious for longer periods of time, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

You cannot tell the difference between flu and COVID-19 by the symptoms alone because many of the signs and symptoms are the same. Testing is needed to confirm a diagnosis.

Common shared symptoms include: 

  • Fever or feeling feverish
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Muscle pain or body aches
  • Headache
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea 
  • Change in loss of taste or smell, although this is more frequent with COVID-19 

RELATED: Is my COVID test expired? How to check, and what to do

Can you get the flu and COVID at the same time? 

Yes, it is possible to be infected with both COVID-19 and the flu simultaneously.

The Source: Information for this story was taken from the shopping websites of various major pharmacies, and from an FDA Oct. 7, 2024, press release. Information about COVID and flu symptoms was taken from the CDC. This story was reported from Detroit. 

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