09.02.2025

New Test Can Detect Both Coronavirus And Influenza Virus

With similar symptoms like fever, tiredness, cough, and shortness of breath… doctors around the Denver metro area will have another tool to determine if patients are sick with COVID-19 or influenza.

“I think we’re preparing for the worst. We’re making sure that we have good protocols to triage patients,” said Dr. Scott Joy, the Chief medical Officer for HealthONE Physician Services Group. “Testing is going to be very important this flu season.”

Dr. Joy showed CBS4 the new testing machine at Englewood Primary Care, which can test for COVID, flu, or Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). But doctors are likely to rely more heavily on another new test. Recently Labcorp was given emergency authorization for an at-home test that can detect both the coronavirus and the flu.

“We’re going to have the ability to send testing kits to patients’ homes from reputable lab sources. We’re all very sensitive now to infection control and limiting our exposure to patients who are acutely infectious,” Dr. Joy said.

Since the pandemic, telehealth has become a much more common practice for many doctors. The at-home test allows patients to limit exposure to other people. But a quick response is required. Dr. Joy says flu patients need to start anti-viral medication within two days of the onset of symptoms.

“I think this is a new technology that is interesting for us to see how it is going to work and I’m sure we’ll learn a lot from it,” Dr. Joy said.

Dr. Moma Health And Wellness Clinic Barred From Administering COVID Vaccine

A Colorado Springs clinic can no longer take part in the state’s efforts to provide COVID-19 vaccines to patients. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment suspended vaccinations in April at the Dr. Moma Health and Wellness Clinic after nearly 4,000 people got one or more dose of Pfizer or Moderna at the facility.

Dr. Sylvienash Moma

Dr. Sylvienash Moma, born in Cameroon, West Africa, apologized earlier this year to the several thousand people who must get new COVID-19 vaccinations after questions were raised about the storage and handling of the vaccines at her Colorado Springs clinic.

Inspectors from the El Paso County Health Department entered her clinic and found people without masks and no social distancing. They also found filled syringes and a bowl with vials in it. The inspectors from the El Paso County Health Department also said there was not a log of the storage conditions.

Instead, Elizabeth Higgins, who described herself as a supporter of Dr. Moma read a statement, “We would like to address the allegations by CDPHE (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment) about the Dr. Moma clinic. These allegations speak to the quality of care and lack of compliance with regulations.”

The clinic normally is involved with Botox, erectile dysfunction and other matters, but signed on with the state to give COVID-19 vaccinations.

One thought on “New Test Can Detect Both Coronavirus And Influenza Virus

  1. Since the pandemic, telehealth has become a much more common practice for many doctors. The at-home test allows patients to limit exposure to other people. But a quick response is required. Dr. Joy says flu patients need to start anti-viral medication within two days of the onset of symptoms.

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