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Strep test, rapid: A diagnostic test commonly used to demonstrate whether streptococcus bacteria ( strep) are present in the throat. A throat infection with strep needs to be treated with an antibiotic.
The traditional test for a strep throat has been a throat culture the major drawback is that the results of the throat culture take 2 to 3 days.
The rapid strep test is much quicker. It can produce results within minutes to hours. A cotton swab is rubbed against the back of the throat to gather a sample of mucous. This takes only 1 to 2 seconds. It makes some people feel a brief gagging or choking sensation. The mucus sample is then tested for a protein that comes from the strep bacteria.
There are several different types of rapid strep tests. They can only detect the presence of what are called Group A strep, the type most likely to cause serious throat infections. They do not detect other kinds of strep or other bacteria.