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Order ZstatFlu®.
The National Flu Surveillance Network (NFSN) originated influenza disease surveillance and recruited physicians across the country. Currently the NFSN has sites in all 50 states and all major cities. New technology produced the tool that makes real-time surveillance possible: a rapid, 99% specific throat-swab test for influenza, called ZstatFlu.
The objective of disease surveillance is to provide real-time information on the outbreak of influenza disease and its prevalence - the when and where, without the normal 7-28 day delay that is typical of viral surveillance. In the 1998-1999 season, the NFSN was successful in identifying influenza disease and announcing its presence 2 to 10 weeks before the CDC viral surveillance system. This was done at considerably less expense.
Viral surveillance conducted by the CDC uses culture confirmation of influenza type and strain as the means of influenza surveillance. The objective is to track type and strain, prepare the coming year's vaccine and monitor flu virus changes for pandemic preparedness. Another private company uses the same culture data to publish estimated influenza incidence.
Disease surveillance through NFSN identifies influenza in a community without any delay, at lower cost than viral surveillance.
| NFSN Disease Surveillance | CDC Viral Surveillance | |
|---|---|---|
| Assay | Neuraminidase assay (ZstatFlu™) | Viral culture (which takes 21 days) |
| Focus | Patient focus | Virus focus |
| Timeframe | Real time (minutes) | Delayed (3-4 weeks) |
| Goal | Improve patient care | Virus monitoring for vaccine preparation |
| Cost | Inexpensive | Expensive |
| Area Reported | Local to national | State to national |
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ZymeTx Web Sites:
zymetx.com
flu101.com
fluwatch.com
©2003 - ZymeTx, Inc.
ZstatFlu®, ViraZyme®,
and ViraSTAT® are trademarks of ZymeTx, Inc.