Strep Throat Test in Winter Park FL

Your doctor will perform a physical exam and check for signs and symptoms of strep throat. They will need to perform tests if they suspect a strep infection.

They may order one or more of the following tests:

– Rapid antigen test on a swab to sample your throat. This test will detect the strep bacteria in a few minutes. If this test comes back negative and your doctor still suspects strep, then a throat culture may be done.

– Molecular polymerase chain reaction tests can be done. This is also done with a swab taken from the throat.

– A throat culture can be taken to test for strep throat. A sterile swab is used to take a sample of the throat. This can seem a bit invasive and cause gagging. The sample is cultured in a laboratory that can detect smaller amounts of bacteria but may take up to two days for results.

Strep throat is a fairly common illness and may be one of the most over-treated conditions. Four symptoms suggest that you are dealing with strep throat.

Those symptoms are:

1. If you have a sore throat and don’t have a cough, there is a higher probability that you have a strep infection.
2. If you press on the front area of your neck and can feel your glands and it hurts, that can be a good indication that you have strep.
3. If you have a fever.
4. If you look in the mirror and see that your tonsils have white stuff on them, you may have strep. (You may want someone to use a flashlight and look into your mouth.)
 
There have been studies done that show the more symptoms you have the probability of having strep goes up. If you have 1 symptom there may be a 10-15% chance you are strep. If you have all 4, then it’s closer to 60-70%.

Home tests for strep throat are available. They are similar to the rapid antigen tests used by doctors. The tests come with a sterile cotton swab that you will use to brush against the back of your throat for a few seconds.
 
The tests generally come with substances called reagents. These are mixed together and added to the cotton swab. The swab is allowed to sit for a few minutes you will insert a small stick that comes with the test. Depending on which test you are using, you will see a series of lines appear on the stick. These indicate the results of the test.
 
Home rapid strep tests are not 100 percent accurate. When done correctly they are accurate at identifying strep 86% of the time. It is also important that these tests are done correctly for accurate results. Doctors and nurses are trained on how too this properly. It can be a little more difficult to do it accurately at home.

If you do take a home strep test, it is still a good idea to see a doctor if your child has:

– A sore throat that lasts more than two days
– A fever higher than 101F that has lasted for more than two days
– A sore throat with swollen or tender lymph nodes
– Trouble swallowing or breathing
– A sore throat and a rash
– A strep throat diagnosis and no improvement after two days of antibiotics.
 
Call to find out more. We serve patients from Winter Park FL, Lockhart FL, Casselberry FL, Maitland FL, Apopka FL, Goldenrod FL, and Oviedo, FL.