Strep Test Questions and Answers

Strep test is completed within minutes, and is a fast and easy throat swab process to determine if the patient has the presence of the A streptococcus bacteria, which is the bacteria that causes strep throat, as well as other infections including scarlet fever, abscesses, and pneumonia.

A bacterial infection that commonly affects the back of the throat as well as the tonsils, which can become irritated and swollen, which can be very painful especially when swallowing is strep throat. You may see white or yellow spots, or a coating on the back of the tongue, and throat and the lymph nodes in the neck may begin to become swollen and tender to the touch.

Rapid strep test is done to find out quickly if the patient’s sore throat is caused by strep or something else that may not require antibiotic treatments. Depending on the symptoms, you may have a throat culture done instead of a rapid strep throat test.

The medical physician will have you tilt your head back and open your mouth as wide as you can. The medical physician will put a tongue depressor which is a flat stick onto the tongue and press it down to examine the mouth and throat. A clean and soft cotton swab will be inserted into the mouth and will lightly swab over the back of the throat, around the tonsils and over any red or sore areas that are found to collect a sample.

At times, the medical physician may do two swabs if the strep throat comes back negative. Collecting the sample through a swab takes a matter of seconds to complete, the secretions on the swab are then analyzed in the office or lab.

You may feel like gagging, which is a reflex reaction to the swab touching the back of the throat. Try to remain calm and breathe in and out through your nose.

A positive strep test result is pretty straight forward, it means you have strep throat. Once your medical physician gets the positive test results back, they will provide a prescription for a treatment to help with the strep throat symptoms. The treatment lasts around 10 to 14 days, this all depends on the antibiotic that was prescribed to you by your doctor. Although your symptoms may improve or even disappear before you have taken all of your antibiotics, you still need to complete all of your antibiotics to complete your full course of treatment.

It’s highly recommended during the first 24 hours of your antibiotic use, you stay home and away from others, as you may still be considered contagious.

To prevent getting strep throat in the future, continue good hand washing techniques, especially after coughing and sneezing and before you prepare food or eat. If you have a sore throat, make an appointment with your doctor for an examination, they will do a few tests to find out what illness you may have contracted.

If you have a feeling of a sore or scratchy throat or any other symptoms of strep throat or other illnesses, walk-in to our clinic today or simply book an appointment online. Immediate Care OK has a team of medical professionals on staff 7 days a week, with 7 different locations available to choose from to help you with any of your immediate medical care needs. We serve patients from West Moore OK, Tecumseh OK, Norman (HealthPlex) OK, Norman (24th) OK, Edmond OK, I-240 & Sooner RD OK, Yukon OK, and Bethany OK.