A rapid strep test can quickly detect group A strep bacteria in the throat, which is more likely to cause severe infections. Symptoms include sore throat, headache, weakness, fever, and swollen neck. Antibiotics are given if the test is positive, while a throat culture may be needed if the test is negative.
A person who has a sore throat may have an infection called strep throat, a condition more commonly known as strep throat. A rapid strep test is often used to discover the presence of a strep infection. Also called a rapid antigen test, a rapid strep test can find only one type of strep: group A strep. The group A strain is more likely to cause severe throat infections than other types of strep making early diagnosis important.
Doctors usually order a rapid strep antigenic test when a person is exhibiting symptoms such as a sore throat, headache, weakness, or fever. A sore throat with white or yellow patches and a tender, swollen neck are other potential symptoms of infection. If someone has been in close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with strep, they may also need to do a rapid strep test.
Traditionally, testing for strep was done by taking a throat culture, which takes two to three days to process. With the rapid strep test, however, group A strep bacteria can be detected within minutes. Rapid strep tests typically look for the existence of group A strep carbohydrate antigen in a person’s throat.
No preparation is needed for a rapid strep test, although gargling and eating right before the test can affect your results. Typically, during the test, a sample of mucus from the back of a person’s throat is collected using a cotton swab. The mucus sample is then tested for group A strep bacteria. Some people may experience sensitivity during the collection process, usually in the form of a choking sensation or retching in the back of the throat.
A rapid strep test can be biased if it is conducted before a sufficient sample of the bacteria is available in the throat. A test can also be affected if it is done when a person has already had the infection for some time and the strep bacteria has mostly been cleared by the immune system. Also, a test may be inaccurate if an individual has already been partially treated with antibiotics.
If the results of a rapid strep test are positive, further testing is usually not needed. In this case, antibiotics are usually given to the infected individual to treat the infection. Even if the test results are negative, a person can still have a sore throat. If this happens, a throat culture may be needed to completely rule out a strep infection. A negative throat culture generally means that your sore throat is the result of a viral infection.
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