I never personally had one but as a nurse in a rehab facility I've done hundreds (thousands? lol) of the rapid flu tests on patients.
Yes, it was a swab like the covid one, and yes, up the nares and swirled. Returned to it's own test tube with solution and sent off to the lab.
I have had both the flu test and Covid test and both were nasal swabs; that look identical. In 2018 I was in the hospital emergency room for the flu, pneumonia and the flu a total of 5 times within a 30 day span and was tested all 5 times with nasal swabs that went all the way up. The flu was so bad that year hospitals were over ran and the death rate was high for the flu season. It was also a year that people were having adverse reactions to one of the medications that Drs were prescribing, I had three friends who had adverse reactions but for the life of me I cant think of the name of the medication., I will remember though and share.
Was it Tamiflu? Work gave it to us free as a precaution when the bird flu was rampant. Now they are pushing the vaxx and wanting us to self report. I work for a large financial institution and miss when they were logical thinkers.
I never personally had one but as a nurse in a rehab facility I've done hundreds (thousands? lol) of the rapid flu tests on patients. Yes, it was a swab like the covid one, and yes, up the nares and swirled. Returned to it's own test tube with solution and sent off to the lab.
I have had both the flu test and Covid test and both were nasal swabs; that look identical. In 2018 I was in the hospital emergency room for the flu, pneumonia and the flu a total of 5 times within a 30 day span and was tested all 5 times with nasal swabs that went all the way up. The flu was so bad that year hospitals were over ran and the death rate was high for the flu season. It was also a year that people were having adverse reactions to one of the medications that Drs were prescribing, I had three friends who had adverse reactions but for the life of me I cant think of the name of the medication., I will remember though and share.
Was it Tamiflu? Work gave it to us free as a precaution when the bird flu was rampant. Now they are pushing the vaxx and wanting us to self report. I work for a large financial institution and miss when they were logical thinkers.
That is the exact word that I typed and deleted becaused I second guessed it, my brain is tired from researching the last few days.
Yes it is the same procedure for influenza A & B testing. Nasal swab
I can confidently state that I've definitely never had a blood test for the Flu, as I've only had blood drawn twice, both times for routine bloodwork.
Less confident in vague memories of nasal swabs as a kid...could have been for something else like strep.
One incomplete anecdote FWIW :p