Throat Culture
A test to determine the type of organism causing disease in the throat (especially STREP THROAT). For this test, a health-care worker obtains a specimen from deep in the throat with a long-handled sterile swab. The specimen is placed on a culture plate and read at 24 and 48 hours.
Rapid strep tests are now widely used; these tests react with certain proteins in the bacteria, giving results in just three minutes. They are about 90 percent accurate, compared to throat cultures. Many health-care workers do both the rapid test and a backup throat culture to make sure all cases of strep throat are diagnosed.
Rapid strep tests are now widely used; these tests react with certain proteins in the bacteria, giving results in just three minutes. They are about 90 percent accurate, compared to throat cultures. Many health-care workers do both the rapid test and a backup throat culture to make sure all cases of strep throat are diagnosed.
Posted in Health and Wellness
