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Pros And Cons Of Diagnostic Testing

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The diagnostic tools that I have seen used at the clinic where I do my practicum includes incision and drainage (I & D) of the abscesses, rapid strep throat testing, influenza swab, urine dip-stick testing, and slit lamp examination. These diagnostic testing provide quick result that aids with the diagnosis of the patients. The advantages of the I & D include pain and discomfort relief and faster healing time and its disadvantages an increased risk for cellulitis and the reappearance of the pus in incision site when the incision site is not large enough (Domino, Baldor, Golding, & Stephens, 2017). In terms of rapid strep throat testing, the pros include the ability to know the next course of action in a matter of five (5) minutes and ensure that the patient receive appropriate treatment. The cons include the chances of having a false positive or false negative result if not properly collected and if correctly swabbed, the discomfort that the patient feels. In addition, if the result is negative and the constitutional symptoms show otherwise, sending the culture to the main hospital to determine the other strains of the Streptococcus would take approximately 3 days and may cause …show more content…

Since the stick that is used to swab needs to go all the way to the nasopharynx, some patients do not tolerate it very well. There is an increased risk of spreading the virus due to the uncontrollable sneezing that results from the swab. On a positive note, unnecessary testing is avoided if the patients are low risk and shows obvious signs and symptoms of the flu and the duration of their illness. As Lab Tests Online Australasia (2018) stated, the test should be done as soon as possible so that the virus strain that shed during the first few days is determined. An anti-viral medication (Tamiflu) for influenza A & B is given during the first 48 hours of symptom onset if that is the case, otherwise it would not be

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