Strep test

A rapid strep test checks the bacteria in your throat to see if strep is the cause of your sore throat.

It may be done so your doctor can find out right away whether you have strep throat. There is another test for strep, called a throat culture, but that test takes a few days to get the results.

• You will be asked to tilt your head back and open your mouth as wide as possible.
• Your doctor will press your tongue down with a flat stick (tongue depressor) and then examine your mouth and throat.
• A clean cotton swab will be rubbed over the back of your throat, around your tonsils, and over any red areas or sores to collect a sample.

You don't need to do anything before you have this test.

A normal or negative test means that strep bacteria may not be present.

• Sometimes, negative results are wrong. This means that you may have a negative rapid strep test result and still have strep throat.
• A throat culture may be done if the rapid strep test result is negative.

An abnormal or positive strep test means that strep bacteria are present.

• Antibiotic treatment can be started.
• A positive test result does not distinguish those people with an active strep infection from those who are carriers of strep bacteria but actually have a viral infection (rather than a bacterial one).