True Health Launches Respiratory Pathogen Screening to Enhance Patient Care During Cold and Flu Season

FRISCO, Texas, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- True Health today announced that as part of an ongoing commitment to enhance patient health, it has launched the respiratory pathogen screening, a single test that targets 21 viral and bacterial pathogens to help clinicians determine the correct treatment for respiratory illnesses during cold and flu season.

Though early in the season, the Centers for Disease Control has already alerted more than a dozen states, many in the South and Southwest, of local flu outbreaks. With an estimated 50 percent of antibiotic prescriptions for acute respiratory tract infections unnecessary[1], True Health's program is built to identify the specific cause of the infection so clinicians can prescribe an effective treatment.

"There are many different microorganisms that can cause cold and flu-like symptoms. Even an experienced physician may have difficultly identifying a specific cause for respiratory illness, which often determines the most effective treatment," said Bobbie Sutton, MD, PhD, Vice President and Laboratory Director at True Health. "Our Respiratory Pathogen Screen will quickly identify multiple common viruses and bacteria that cause respiratory disease, so clinicians can be confident they are following the right path toward helping their patients get well again."

True Health is offering its 21-pathogen screen with just a one-day turn-around from receipt of the specimen at the lab to delivering the results, a highly accurate means of determining the precise viral or bacterial pathogen responsible for a patient's illness. Coughing, congestion, a headache, wheezing, nasal discharge, even a fever, are among the symptoms that can be common to patients who have either a cold or the flu. Inaccurate diagnosis is part of what has led to the national problem of antibiotic resistance, which increases mortality when antibiotics are really needed for the treatment of other illnesses.

"True Health has initiated its respiratory pathogen testing, because illnesses and patient health do not exist in a vacuum," said True Health Group CEO Chris Grottenthaler. "Wherever actionable, diagnostic information can be leveraged to help people live longer, healthier lives, we intend to be there offering a solution."

About True Health

True Health Group is focused on transforming patient care through integrated diagnostics and healthcare services. True Health Diagnostics, a subsidiary, specializes in earlier-stage diagnosis and prevention of chronic disease, including cardiovascular, diabetes, cancer, genetic disorders and autoimmune disease. True Health is headquartered in Frisco, Texas, with operations across the country. More information can be found at truehealthdiag.com.

Media Contact

Cera Therrien
972-987-1491

[1] Fleming-Dutra KE, et al. Prevalence of inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions among US ambulatory care visits, 2010-2011. JAMA. 2016; 315(17):1866-73

SOURCE True Health

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