In 2008, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for a highly sensitive influenza polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay.

Today, molecular assays available for detecting influenza virus infection include rapid molecular assays, Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), and other nucleic acid amplification tests. These tests can detect influenza viral RNA or nucleic acids in respiratory specimens with high sensitivity and high specificity.