RAP - The Main Game, page-242

Thanks @Coseycat

The other great thing about this data is that if you click on "view chart data" it also breaks down the actual number of influenza tests for the week.

This is what is of more significance for RAPs data given it doesn't really matter if the diagnosis is positive or negative, just that it's the correct diagnosis.

There have been >20,000 influenza tests per week in the states for the month of December & it appears the number of tests is increasing as the weeks go on.

Clearly, the more prevalent influenza is within the population is directly proportional to the number of weekly tests. I.E if it's spreading, more will get infected & hence more will show symptoms & hence get tested.

Naturally, our population of tests within the scope of the study is a fraction of those reported to the CDC given the CDC data is across all age groups in every US hospital & RAPs is for consenting children in 3 major hospitals & their associated satilite hospitals.

The data provides a nice trend for the American population & their increasing desire to get tested for influenza as the disease spreads in the middle of winter...

Timing for our study appears to have been "perfectly delayed" to ensure the winter flu season is smack bang in the middle of the collection period as this ensures the shortest possible data collection period.

Update on recruitment is imminent & in the absence of one, we know that more Americans are contracting the flu & hence presenting themselves for tests... Remember, positive or negative tests don't matter, so long as it's the correct diagnosis!

Huge week coming up & this will really hit its straps!