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Flu Test Now Available For Widespread Use In The U.S. SAN DIEGO, CA -- October 12, 2000 -- Quidel Corporation announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted a CLIA waiver for the Company's QuickVue® Influenza Test in time for this winter's flu season. Previously, only a limited number of physicians were able to access this diagnostic tool. An estimated 100,000 U.S. physicians' office laboratories will have access to this test, allowing more patients to benefit from rapid diagnosis and to receive the most appropriate treatment for their condition. Every year more than 90 million people have flu-like symptoms, but many do not have influenza. The widespread use of Quidel's rapid diagnostic test will aid physicians to rule in or rule out influenza which is important because: -- Rapid diagnosis avoids unnecessary medications including overuse of antibiotics -- Prompt diagnosis of the disease allows for treatment with a variety of antiviral medications -- Flu-like symptoms can be indicative of other illnesses including potentially more serious conditions "Accurate diagnosis of influenza is especially important in infants and young children because it can mimic other serious illnesses. With a rapid test to determine if a child has influenza, we can avoid painful procedures and ineffective therapies," said Kathryn M. Edwards, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. "After evaluating Quidel's rapid diagnostic test during last winter's flu season, it is clear that this test reliably provides a yes or no answer in minutes. Although this test is very useful, influenza prevention through vaccination remains our most important weapon." Seventy to 76 million people in the U.S. are at high risk for influenza infections. The high risk populations include approximately 35 million persons aged 65 years or older, 39 million persons less than 65 years of age with high risk conditions and 2 million pregnant women. These infections cause an average of 114,000 excess hospitalizations and 20,000 deaths annually according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The QuickVue Influenza Test detects influenza types A and B within 10 minutes using a simple nasal swab, and is the only CLIA waived test on the market today. As a result of the CLIA waiver, a patient can now be tested and treated in one office visit. "The combination of using our QuickVue Influenza Test in the diagnosis of the virus and providing available treatment options represents a stronger line of attack against influenza than ever before," said Andre de Bruin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Quidel Corporation. "We are very excited about receiving a CLIA waiver for our QuickVue Influenza Test as last flu season only a small fraction of physicians had access to this diagnostic tool." Related links: QuickVue and Quidel Corporation. E-mail this page to a friend or colleague! To print, use this version