There are new tests that can narrow down a cold to the specific virus a patient has. Some experts say it can be a mixed blessing — you may identify exactly which virus or viruses are making you sick, yet most viruses don't have any specific treatments.
Experts say “multiplex” tests that screen for multiple types of germs may be a mixed blessing.
And it can add to patient angst. If it’s no longer just a cold, it’s adenovirus or bocavirus — what exactly does that mean?Dr. Sarah Nosal, a primary care physician in the Bronx, New York, says she’s seeing the phenomenon more and more in her practice. “And so the parents are freaking out, like, ‘Why? Why does my kid have this many viruses?’” Nosal said.
“So we have the ability now to put names on things, so I think it has changed,” said Dr. Preeti Malani, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Michigan. “I do feel that COVID has changed that paradigm a bit.” Tests for certain infections, particularly the flu and COVID-19, are still warranted in many cases, Malani says, especially when those viruses are known to be circulating in your area.
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