People with flu-like symptoms in the metro region could be eligible for a new study that offers free, rapid testing.

Dr. Peter Daley, an associate professor of infectious disease at Memorial University, says the testing is taking place at the Mundy Pond clinic. They will give the patient a nose swab and, within 30 minutes, have a result for one of four respiratory diseases.

Daley says they have two objectives with the study.

The first is to contribute to disease surveillance so they know what is circulating in the province. The second goal, according to Daley, is to reduce antibiotic use. He says “almost all” mild upper respiratory tract infections are caused by viruses, and there is no need to give antibiotics to those patients, but “we often do.”

Daley summarizes who is eligible for the study.

He says they are looking for people with general cold-like symptoms such as cough, runny nose, and fever, and they want people within seven days of the onset of symptoms.