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MxA alerts the immune system to an influenza infection when it detects the virus’ nucleoprotein, a protein bound to its RNA.

Rapid tests detect a different kind of protein, called a nucleoprotein, that has undergone many fewer changes.

The researchers did find an evolutionary clue in the gene for the virus’ nucleoprotein, a structural protein that helps determine what species the virus can infect.

But the assay used in the paper, which targets the nucleoprotein of the virus, is particularly prone to false negative results, Slifka says.

Your body will produce other antibodies that match up with other parts of the virus, including what's called the nucleoprotein, found inside the virus.