Streptococcal screen

The test requires a throat swab. The swab is tested to identify group A streptococcus. It takes about 7 minutes to get the results.

There is no special preparation. Tell your health care provider if you are taking antibiotics or have recently taken them.

The back of your throat will be swabbed in the area of your tonsils. This may make you gag.

Your provider may recommend this test if you have signs of strep throat, which include: Fever Sore throat Tender and swollen glands at the front of your neck White or yellow spots on your tonsils

A negative strep screen most often means group A streptococcus is not present. It is unlikely that you have strep throat. If your provider still thinks that you may have strep throat, a throat culture will be done in children and adolescents.

A positive strep screen most often means group A streptococcus is present and confirms that you have strep throat. Sometimes, the test may be positive even if you do not have strep. This is called a false-positive result.

There are no risks.

This test screens for the group A streptococcus bacteria only. It will not detect other causes of sore throat.

Allen CT, Nussenbaum B, Merati AL. Acute and chronic laryngopharyngitis. In: Flint PW, Francis HW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery . 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 61. Bryant AE, Stevens DL. Streptococcus pyogenes. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell,…