Uncategorized Influenza Antigen Test: The Complete Guide – It Only Takes 15 Minutes! When is it Accurate?
When you go to the hospital with a fever, the test you will almost certainly receive is the "Rapid Antigen Test (the 15-Minute Test)." This inexpensive and fast-acting test remains at the forefront of influenza diagnosis as of 2025.However, behind its convenience lies a limitation: the possibility of a "false negative" (being negative when you actually have the virus). Its accuracy significantly decreases, especially for Type B influenza and when the test is performed more than 48 hours after the onset of symptoms.