Dr. Allison McMullen, PhD, Scientific Partner for Molecular Diagnostics at Roche Diagnostics discusses a survey that shows that many Americans are confused by the differences between PCR tests and rapid antigen tests and when to use them. She talks about the importance of early diagnosis to differentiate between similar-looking respiratory viruses (including flu, COVID, and RSV), the available testing options, the latest advances in diagnostics, and additional findings from the new survey.

Dr. Allison McMullen is a Scientific Partner for Molecular Diagnostics at Roche. Allison focuses on internal and external strategic infectious disease initiatives and leads the Sexual Health and Cervical Cancer Integrated Medical Teams, and is a team member on the Cervical Cancer and Respiratory Squads.

Before joining Roche, Allison was the Medical Director of Microbiology at Augusta University Medical Center and an Assc Professor in the Department of Pathology at Medical College of Georgia. In these roles, she combined her passion for patient care and education to lead the lab to partner with clinicians for optimal patient outcomes.

Allison earned her Ph.D. in Experimental Pathology at the University of Texas Medical Branch where she studied the molecular epidemiology of West Nile Virus. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship studying HPV at the CDC , and then served as an ASM/CPEP Fellow in Clinical Microbiology at Washington University School of Medicine.

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