This study aimed to evaluate the impact of implementing rapid point-of-care testing (POCT) with the Alere i Influenza A & B in an emergency department (ED) during an influenza epidemic.

Direct nasal swabs were prospectively collected following the physical examination of patients aged >18years who presented to the ED of a tertiary hospital in France with influenza-like illness (ILI) symptoms (N=301) between February 1st and March 31st, 2016, which coincided with an influenza epidemic. Laboratory-based testing (standard of care) was used to obtain a diagnosis in February 2016 (pre-POCT cohort) and positive results were confirmed using polymerase chain reaction. The primary endpoint was patient time in the ED.

A total of 169 and 132 patients participated in the pre-POCT phase and POCT phase respectively. A significantly higher proportion of patients received a positive diagnosis in the POCT cohort compared with the pre-POCT cohort (31% versus 5.3%, P<0.01). Mean time spent in the ED and hospitalization rate were significantly lower in the POCT cohort (6.06h versus 4.15h, P=0.03, and 44.4% versus 9.7%, P=0.02, respectively). Despite similar rates in the prescription of antibiotics and antiviral therapies, the proportion of patients who were referred for additional tests was significantly lower in the POCT cohort (78.1% versus 62.1%, P=0.003, and 80.5% versus 63.6%, P=0.01, respectively).

The Alere i Influenza A & B POCT reduced the length of stay in ED, the hospitalization rates, and the number of additional diagnostic tests compared with standard of care testing.