¡°You can purchase these tests 5over the counter where during the flu season you have these upper-respiratory systems, you don¡¯t know if it¡¯s COVID, you don¡¯t know (if) it¡¯s the flu. This is a great way for a person to be able to tell.¡±

The test is able to 6identify a negative result for Influenza A with more than 99 percent 7accuracy and a positive result with more than 90 percent accuracy. It¡¯s 100 percent accurate for negative COVID-19 samples and more than 88 percent accurate for positive results. There weren¡¯t enough Influenza B cases for the company to do real-world testing for that 8strain. But in lab studies it caught nearly 100 percent of negative cases.

¡°If you have this test and you¡¯re able to say OK, this is flu, then you can get appropriate treatment for flu or you can help to prevent the spread of flu, as opposed to if it is COVID you can get appropriate treatment for COVID and 9go into quarantine or isolation.¡±

The company¡¯s CEO told USA Today that a U.S. 10price tag and release date will be announced at a later date. People who have flu- or COVID-like symptoms but test negative may have a different respiratory infection and should 11get follow-up care.