The diagnostic test maker Inverness Medical Technology Inc. says its Binax Inc. unit has been granted U.S. regulatory approval to add a bird flu claim to a rapid flu test.

According to the company the one-step, rapid influenza test is able to clearly differentiate between influenza A and influenza B in as little as 15 minutes.

It is now entitled to add the avian influenza H5N1 virus to the list of flu strains it can identify.