At least nine individuals have been tested for the swine flu in the Quad-Cities, with one instance deemed “probable” for the illness.

Iowa Gov. Chet Culver announced late Wednesday that one adult may have the illness that is formally called H1N1 influenza. That adult, a California resident, traveled through Scott and Clinton counties over the weekend and had interaction with the public, officials said.

Such situations are inevitable, said Dr. Louis Katz, the medical director of the Scott County Health Department and an infectious disease physician. Katz said early this week that Iowa is no different from any other state when it comes to people traveling in and out of the area.

There is no change in the public health message, he said, which centers on hand hygiene and cough control. “Stay away from others if you are ill,” he added.

Seven area tests were sent Wednesday from the Metropolitan Medical Lab in Davenport and two others from Genesis Medical Center. The results are supposed to be back as soon as possible, according to Polly Carver-Kimm, a spokeswoman for the Iowa Department of Public Health.

Metropolitan Medical Laboratory handles tests from doctors’ offices in the area, and its clients include Trinity Regional Health System, a lab official said. Genesis Health System handles its own influenza tests.

The local tests are sent to the University of Iowa Hygienic Laboratory in Iowa City for confirmation. Results are released first to the state Department of Public Health.

The Iowa City lab has about 150 tests to perform and 40 have been completed so far, Carver-Kimm said Wednesday morning. “There is usually a turnaround of 48 hours, but that also depends on the test load. They will be done as quickly as possible,” she said.

Doctors order the test for ill individuals who have traveled or been in contact with affected persons.

Factors that lead to a test include a fever of more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit for more than two days, respiratory problems and outside contacts, said Craig Cooper, a spokesman for Genesis Medical Center. The geographic contact probably will become of less importance if the influenza spreads in the area, he noted.

Confirmed cases of the flu have been reported in more than 10 states, with Illinois reporting nine “probable” cases Wednesday.