Some Doctors Having Trouble Testing for West Nile Virus - kcentv.com - KCEN HD - Waco, Temple, and Killeen

(KCEN) -- As cases of the West Nile Virus continue to climb a new problem has emerged.

Now some doctor's offices are unable to send off lab tests because of a backlog.

That means at some offices when patients go in with flu-like symptoms and request West Nile testing doctors are telling patients no.

Results generally take between two to seven days for results.

So doctors say even though the test is helpful in making a final diagnosis it doesn't change the course of treatment.

West Nile Virus infections and deaths have hit record levels in the U.S. this year with the bulk of them right  here in Texas.