OBJECTIVES: This study predicted and analyzed outcomes among six options (universal antiviral therapy without testing [Universal], empiric therapy without testing [Empiric], empiric therapy with lab testing [Empiric_Lab], treatments responding to lab results [Standard], treatments responding to point-of-care testing [POCT] results and no treatment [NoTx]) in healthy adults with influenza-like symptoms who visit physicians within or beyond 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. METHODS: A decision model was created to predict total and direct medical costs, symptom-free days, quality of life and days of work lost within 14 days from the perspective of patients. Most model inputs were derived from the literature; some were obtained from internal data and expert opinions. Total costs (in $2009 USD) included costs associated with prescriptions/OTC, tests, complications, hospitalization and work-day loss. Cost-effectiveness analysis, cost-utility analysis and probabilistic sensitivity analysis were performed. RESULTS:  Total costs per symptom-free day were $119 ($874/7.3), $130 ($893/6.9), $163 ($1,086/6.7), $162 ($1,103/6.8), $189 ($1,117/5.9) and $280 ($1117/4.2) for Universal, NoTx, Standard, POCT, Emiric_Lab and Empiric, respectively. Total costs per quality of life were $1,560 ($874/0.56), $1,641 ($893/0.54), $2,156 ($1,086/0.50), $1,949 ($1,103/0.57), $1,993 ($1,117/0.56) and $2,195 ($1117/0.54) for Universal, NoTx, Standard, POCT, Emiric_Lab and Empiric, respectively. Direct medical costs were $238, $169, $380, $336, $358 and $193 for Universal, NoTx, Standard, POCT, Emiric_Lab and Empiric, respectively. Direct medical costs per symptom-free day were $46, $25, $57, $49, $60 and $$46 for Universal, NoTx, Standard, POCT, Emiric_Lab and Empiric, respectively. Direct medical costs per quality of life were $425, $311, $755, $594, $639 and $$360 for Universal, NoTx, Standard, POCT, Emiric_Lab and Empiric, respectively. Sensitivity analysis indicated the study results were robust. CONCLUSIONS: With consideration of total costs, the universal option was the most cost-effective option. With consideration of direct medical costs only, no treatment is the most cost-effective option.