What's the use?

I've been tested for the seasonal flu once in my life. It was awful to say the least, and I was very upset when I found out the doctors at Children's had stuck a tube up my noise and down my throat only to find I did NOT have the flu. So, I feel for Chris Dekker who was tested for H1N1 and the seasonal flu multiple times. Worse yet, he DID have H1N1, but the tests couldn't detect it. Because of these faulty tests, the poor college student almost died. So I have one question...did I have the flu two years ago? Was my test faulty as well? Doctors never could figure out what was wrong with me. Could this be a sign that the way hospitals test for the flu is not 100% correct. If so, how many lives are put in danger because of these inaccurate results. Maybe I'm being dramatic, but this is a real concern. Why put someone through a sometimes painful test only to get back inconclusive results?

Shelby Pieper

Copy Editor