But, what if I wanted to get tested for H1N1?

Let me start off by saying that when I pay for my student fees with my tuition, I expect to get results.

Last week, I went in to get tested for H1N1, or at least I thought I was going to be able to. The response I got was, you need to make an appointment.

Let's see -- I had the H1N1 virus over the summer and if I can recall, the test took 20 minutes max. They shoved a cotton swab looking stick up my nose, swirled it around, I coughed, waited 20 minutes, got my test results, end of story.

I don't see the efficacy in making an appointment, which I knew was either going to be the next day or the following day after that. Isn't the point of testing for any sort of infection and/or disease at the first sign of symptoms to diagnose it early?

Apparently not in my case.

So I go into the appointment office and request to make an appointment to get tested for H1N1.

The reply was, "Oh, we are booked all day. I won't be able to schedule you until tomorrow."

I said OK and proceeded to make an appointment for the following day.

I then get another response in mid-discussion, "Oh wait, you want to get tested for H1N1? I'm sorry, we don't do H1N1 testing."

I asked why this was and the woman said it is because the CDC does not recommend testing and handed me a pamphlet on H1N1. I already had H1N1 so I knew everything the pamphlet was going to tell me.

Now my issue with all of this is that what the CDC said is just a recommendation. That wasn't a mandate issued by the government. I paid my student fees with my tuition, so when I want to get tested for something as serious as H1N1, I expect to get results.

What I find ironic is that it is the CDC who is blowing up the situation of the H1N1 outbreak.

"During the week of Oct. 11-17, 2009, influenza activity continued to increase in the United States as reported in FluView. Flu activity is now widespread in 46 states. Nationwide, visits to doctors for influenza-like-illness are increasing steeply and are now higher than what is seen at the peak of many regular flu seasons. In addition, flu-related hospitalizations and deaths continue to go up nation-wide and are above what is expected for this time of year." A direct quote from the CDC homepage.

As a public health major, my concern with issued statements like these is that they are being taken very literal.

What about those who are immune suppressed? ECU has students who have suppressed immune systems, whether it is with HIV or with cancer-related illnesses. What if these students wanted to get tested for H1N1 in order for them to take necessary precautions? Especially those who have never gotten the virus before and don't know how to deal with it.

Regardless of these students' health issues, what if I wanted to get tested for it because I felt the sudden need to? I paid for these services, and I should be able to get tested for whatever I please, not because I think I have it, but because if there is a possible chance that I may have it, I want to immediatley take action and get prescribed anti-viral drugs such as Tamiflu -- which worked wonders for me the last time I had H1N1.

This is what the CDC had to say in their FAQ's section of their H1N1 page: "Your health care provider may diagnose you with flu based on your symptoms and their clinical judgment or they may choose to use an influenza diagnostic test. Depending on their clinical judgment and your symptoms, your healthcare provider will decide whether testing is needed and what type of test to perform. CDC has provided recommendations for clinicians this season to help with testing decisions."

Last time I was seeking medical attention for something at Student Health, I was improperly diagnosed with a sinus infection, when I actually had strep my freshman year. I would feel much more comfortable if they just stuck the cotton swab up my nose again so as to "properly" diagnose me, not by assumption because that is not a route I am not willing to take again with Student Health.

The CDC says that regardless if you are tested for H1N1 or influenza, it won't change how you are treated.

I beg to differ, actually. If I can't be diagnosed properly for H1N1, I won't be prescribed the proper medication. There are different strains of the flu virus, both H1N1 and influenza A. What if by some chance I contracted a strain that does not respond to just cough syrup and Tylenol? How will I know for sure what I have if I can't get tested for it?

In my opinion, our Student Health needs to realize the difference between a recommendation and a mandate. I shouldn't have to call my family physician in Raleigh to schedule an appointment to get tested for a certain illness, Student Health should be able to do it. Especially since I already paid for their services.

This writer can be contacted at opinion@theeastcarolinian.com.