Streptococcal Throat Culture - Procedure and Results

A streptococcal throat culture is a laboratory test used to detect the presence of streptococcal bacteria in the throat, particularly group A Streptococcus, which can cause strep throat.
Category
Test
Where to get
Available in medical laboratories and healthcare facilities
Applicable for
Prepared by Shruti Sahoo, reviewed by Dr. Eugene Smith

Streptococcal Throat Culture FAQ


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What is a throat culture used for?

Health providers use a throat culture to diagnose conditions, including: Diphtheria. Gonorrhea. Rheumatic fever or scarlet fever. Strep throat (bacterial tonsillitis ). Thrush. Whooping cough (pertussis). What happens before a throat culture? Before a throat culture, your provider will tell you what to expect during the test.

Do I need a throat culture after a negative rapid strep test?

After a negative rapid strep test, healthcare providers may do a throat culture. For children and teens, culture is important. For adults, it’s usually not necessary to do a throat culture. Antibiotics aren’t needed if all the test results are negative.

Is a throat culture more accurate than a rapid strep screen?

A throat culture can confirm the presence of group A Streptococcus and other bacteria, and it’s generally considered more accurate than a rapid strep screen. It’s also important to note that a rapid strep screen test only screens for group A Streptococcus, which is one type of bacterium.

How long does a throat culture take?

A throat culture is a quick, painless test to look for infections. Your provider may do a throat culture if you have a sore throat. This test shows if you have a bacterial infection, such as strep throat — or a fungal infection, such as thrush. You get results in 2 to 7 days.

Streptococcal Throat Culture References

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