Testing Benefits for Pharmacies
Point-of-care testing, including step and flu testing, can offer significant financial advantages for pharmacies. By providing quick and convenient diagnostic services, pharmacies can attract more patients seeking immediate care. Additionally, POCT allows pharmacies to diversify their revenue streams by offering valuable health services beyond traditional prescription dispensing. This can lead to higher profit margins, as pharmacies can charge for testing services and related follow-up care. The ability to quickly diagnose and treat conditions on-site will not only enhance patient loyalty, but it will drive repeat business and lead to long-term financial growth.
Testing Benefits for Customers
Benefits to the pharmacy customer are numerous when it comes to point-of-care testing. Patients will have improved access to care and a better quality of life with the pharmacy assisting in their diagnosis and treatment vs having to wait for an appointment at physician’s offices or hospitals. Additionally, pharmacy testing can lead to earlier symptom resolution and ultimately less patient hospitalizations and less financial burden. This also leads to great pharmacist and patient relationships being established as the pharmacy plays an even greater role in their healthcare.
Types of Testing
Flu Testing
The most common type of test for the flu is called “Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Tests.” (RIDTs) RIDTs detect antigens and take approximately 10-15 minutes to show the result. It has moderate sensitivity (50-70%) and high specificity. The FDA now requires RIDTs to achieve 80% sensitivity. Important to note with this type of testing, detection of antigen does not necessarily indicate detection of viable infectious virus or on-going influenza viral replication.
Another type of test is the rapid molecular assays. These can detect influenza viral nucleic acids in the upper respiratory tract. It takes 15-20 minutes for the result to come out and is generally more accurate than RIDTs with a sensitivity of 90-95%.
Lastly, there are the Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reactions (RT-PCR), viral cultures, and immunofluorescence assays that are mainly performed in hospitals and specialized laboratories. Results from these tests may take several hours.
The RT-PCR test identifies the presence of influenza viral RNA and nucleic acids in the respiratory tract. This test is also able to differentiate different subtypes of viruses.
Now with viral culture tests, results may take 1-3 days to come back therefore they are usually used for surveillance. This type of test is also used for antigenic characterization of new seasonal influenza strains that may be included in next year’s vaccine, rather than testing for active infections.
Lastly, immunofluorescence utilizes a fluorescent microscope to produce results in about 2-4 hours with moderate sensitivity and high specificity. It can detect influenza A and B viral antigens, but it is not capable of differentiating the subtypes of influenza A viruses.
Strep Testing
There are two types of tests used for strep throat, a rapid strep test and a throat culture. With these tests, they are performed the same way by swabbing the back of a patient’s throat near the tonsils.
The rapid strep test will quickly show if group A strep bacteria is causing the symptoms and illness. A throat culture on the other hand, takes time as it sees if group A strep bacteria will grow from the swab. Although the culture may take longer to provide results, it sometimes finds infections that the rapid strep test missed and thus it is very important as well.
Testing Results & Treatment
Confirmation of infection by diagnostic testing is not required for medication decision-making. Decision-making should be based on signs and symptoms of the illness. Influenza testing may be used to help make informed decisions on antibiotic and antiviral treatment, the need for further diagnostic tests, and the consideration for home care.
Interpretation of the test result should consider several factors, including the predictive values of the test, test sensitivity and specificity, time from illness onset to specimen collection, and prevalence of influenza in the patient population.
State Regulations Regarding Rapid Diagnostic Test for Flu and Strep Testing
- Kentucky allows pharmacists to utilize protocols approved by the board to test and treat for flu, strep, UTI, and other conditions.
- Florida passed a law that under physicians’ protocols pharmacists are allowed to test and treat minor, non chronic conditions, including strep and flu.
- Beyond direct statewide prescribing authority, many states have CPA authority to allow pharmacists to prescribe with a rapid diagnostic test.
- These states include: Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Important to note, state regulations are constantly evolving. It’s important to go directly to your state’s Board of Pharmacy for exact regulations in your area.
Pharmacies offering testing services can lead to healthier communities and quicker diagnosis of disease. Not only will this allow pharmacists to practice at the top of their license, it will allow for patients to continue to receive exceptional care from the pharmacy teams they love.
Ready to elevate your pharmacy with point of care testing?
Schedule a Lumistry Platform demo today to discover how we can help streamline testing, boost revenue, and make your pharmacy an essential healthcare resource in the community!
