Positive Flu Test? Here’s What to Do Next
Key takeaways:
The flu is contagious. If you test positive for the flu, stay home until your fever is gone and you start to feel better.
Tamiflu (oseltamivir) and other flu antivirals can help you feel better faster. To get the best results, you need to start them as soon as possible.
It’s never too late to get a flu shot. You can still get a flu shot even if you already had the flu this season.
A positive flu test can catch you by surprise, especially if you’ve never had the flu (influenza). The flu can strike anyone at any age, even if you’ve already had a flu shot that season.
Keep reading to find out what it means if you test positive for the flu — and what to do next to feel better faster.
When should you get a flu test?
You should get a flu test if you have flu-like symptoms during flu season.
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In most of the U.S., flu season lasts from October through May. During this time, the flu spreads quickly, so many people catch it. If you have symptoms that feel like the flu, chances are high that’s what you have.
Flu symptoms tend to come on pretty quickly. Most people with the flu experience:
Fever
Chills
Cough
Sore throat
Runny or stuffy nose
Body and muscle aches
Headaches
So it’s a good idea to get tested for the flu if you have these symptoms during flu season.
What are the different types of flu tests?
There are several types of flu tests, but some are more accurate than others. And there’s usually a trade-off between rapid results and accuracy. All flu tests use nasal swab samples to check for flu.
Here are the different types of flu tests.
How long will it take to get back to normal? Here’s how long the flu lasts and what to expect as you recover.
Accelerating your flu recovery: Follow these simple expert tips to get back to your routine in no time.
Medication can help you recover faster. Learn more about prescription flu treatments.
Rapid influenza diagnostic tests
These tests — known as RIDTs — are popular in clinics and urgent care centers because they’re quick. Often, you get results in less than 15 minutes. But they aren’t very sensitive, so sometimes they miss the flu. If you test negative on an RIDT during flu season, your primary care provider might send out your original sample for more testing.
Rapid molecular assays
These tests are more sensitive than RIDTs, and they’re becoming more common in outpatient settings. They work by detecting genetic material from the flu virus. And they often provide results in about 30 minutes.
Samples may not be run on site, though. If that’s the case, it can take several hours to get your results. That’s because you’ll have to wait for the lab to report the results to the healthcare professional you’re seeing.
Emergency departments, hospitals, and some healthcare professional offices use these kinds of tests.
Viral cultures
These are very accurate, but they take several days to complete. So they’re not very helpful for deciding what to do if you have flu symptoms. This method is used for researching flu outbreaks or in other specialized situations.
Multiplex tests
These are designed to check for several respiratory viruses at the same time. In addition to the flu, these tests can detect COVID-19. And, depending on the test, they might also be able to pick up viruses such as:
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
Adenovirus
Rhinovirus
Parainfluenza virus
Most of these tests can provide results in about 1 hour. They’re not usually available in offices or outpatient facilities.
At-home flu tests
There are also at-home flu testing kits. These kits let you collect your own sample, but you still need to return your swab to a local lab to get results.
At-home kits can save you time and an office copay. But the downside is that you have to be able to collect a good sample in order to get an accurate result.
Can you test positive for the flu if you’ve gotten a flu shot this season?
Yes, you can test positive for the flu even if you’re up-to-date with your flu shot.
Flu shots are safe and effective, but they aren’t perfect. It’s still possible to get the flu if you’ve had the flu shot. But you’re much less likely to develop a serious flu illness if you’re up-to-date with your flu vaccine.
It’s good to know that getting a flu shot won’t affect your flu test or cause a false positive. So, if you test positive for the flu, ask a healthcare professional about flu treatments and how to minimize spreading the flu to others.
What should you do if you test positive for the flu?
If you’ve tested positive for the flu, here’s what to do next.
1. Consider antiviral medications
Antivirals are prescription medications that fight the flu virus. These medications work best if you start them right away — that is, within the first 2 days after symptoms begin.
Antiviral medications are recommended for anyone who’s at high risk of developing a serious flu illness. This includes anyone who’s:
Less than 5 years old
More than 65 years old
Pregnant, or has recently given birth
Immunocompromised
Hospitalized or living in an institution
At risk for complications because of asthma, heart disease, or other medical conditions
Antiviral medications can be lifesaving, but they do have side effects. This is why it’s important to talk with your healthcare team about your options. Antiviral medications might not be a good option if you’re otherwise healthy and your symptoms are mild — or if your symptoms have been going on for longer than 2 days.
Many offices and telemedicine platforms can prescribe antiviral medications after a virtual visit or over the phone if you’re at high risk for severe flu illness and have a positive flu test.
2. Stay home
It’s best to stay home until you feel better unless you need to get medical treatment. Your body needs to rest. And your immune system needs to focus on fighting off the flu virus.
Plus, the flu is contagious. Staying home from work and school prevents you from spreading the flu to others. In general, you should stay home until your fever is gone and your symptoms are starting to get better. You’re most contagious with the flu during the first 3 or 4 days of illness. But you can be contagious for more than a week.
If you do need to get medical care, first call your primary care provider and tell them you think you have the flu. Avoid spreading the flu to others by wearing a mask while you’re out. Cover your sneezes and coughs, and remember to wash your hands often.
3. Get comfortable
The flu is no fun. Fortunately, there are many over-the-counter (OTC) and natural remedies that can help lessen flu symptoms. You can relieve fever and muscle aches with acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Motrin).
Staying hydrated will help too. Warm and cool liquids can help you keep up your fluid intake and relieve a sore throat. To help with other flu symptoms, try OTC flu symptom medications and natural options like honey and humidifiers.
4. Get a flu shot
If you haven’t already gotten a flu shot this season, go get one once you’re fully recovered. There are multiple strains of flu, and different ones come out at different times during flu season.
Getting sick with one strain won’t protect you from the rest. This means you can get the flu more than once in a season. A flu shot can keep you from getting sick again.
Frequently asked questions
False positive flu tests aren’t common. They tend to happen when people have flu-like symptoms outside of flu season. It’s very unlikely that your result is a false positive if you have flu-like symptoms during flu season.
No, the flu can’t cause a positive COVID test. COVID tests and flu tests look for pieces of the COVID and flu viruses. The viruses are very different. So, a COVID test can’t pick up the flu, and a flu test can’t pick up COVID.
The bottom line
Get a flu test if you have flu-like symptoms during flu season. You can get results in as little as 15 minutes. If you have a positive flu test, talk with a healthcare professional right away about antiviral medication, especially if you could be at risk for severe symptoms. Then take care of yourself. Get plenty of rest, stay hydrated, and use OTC remedies to make yourself more comfortable. Unless you need to get medical care, stay home until you feel better to help prevent spreading the flu to others.
Why trust our experts?
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). How flu spreads.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Information for clinicians on rapid diagnostic testing for influenza.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Overview of influenza testing methods.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). People at increased risk for flu complications.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Signs and symptoms of flu.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Treating flu with antiviral drugs.
Ruest, A., et al. (2003). Comparison of the directigen flu A+B test, the QuickVue influenza test, and clinical case definition to viral culture and reverse transcription-PCR for rapid diagnosis of influenza virus infection. Journal of Microbiology.
