What does an abnormal strep culture mean?
What Abnormal Results Mean. A positive strep screen most often means group A streptococcus is present, and confirms that you have strep throat. Sometimes, the test may be positive even if you do not have strep. This is called a false-positive result.
What happens if a throat culture is positive?
If the throat culture was positive, it means you or your child has strep throat or other strep infection. If the throat culture was negative, it means your symptoms are not being caused by strep A bacteria. Your provider will probably order more tests to help make a diagnosis.
What can be detected from a throat swab?
A throat culture or strep test is performed by using a throat swab to detect the presence of group A streptococcus bacteria, the most common cause of strep throat. These bacteria also can cause other infections, including scarlet fever, abscesses, and pneumonia.
Will a throat culture show STDS?
This type of culture can be used to detect everything from strep throat to chlamydia, sometimes even when an infection has barely begun. In fact, a bacterial culture is a useful tool in a doctor’s arsenal for just that reason.
Can strep culture be wrong?
Keep in mind, though, that up to a third of negative rapid strep test results are false (meaning someone actually has a strep throat infection even though the rapid strep results were negative). A throat culture may then be done to ensure accuracy.
Will a throat culture show thrush?
Examples of infections that may be found during a throat culture include: Candida albicans. This fungus causes thrush, an infection of the mouth and tongue and sometimes of the throat. Group A streptococcus.
What is the meaning of throat swab?
A throat swab culture is a laboratory test that is done to identify germs that may cause infection in the throat. It is most often used to diagnose strep throat.
How accurate is a throat culture?
The rapid streptococcal antigen testing showed no difference in specificity when compared with throat culture results (0.96 versus 0.98). In addition, the study revealed that the rapid antigen test was more reliable than throat cultures in patients who had recent streptococcal pharyngitis.
How do you read throat culture results?
A negative throat swab culture means that no infectious bacteria are present in your throat. A positive test indicates the presence of streptococci (the bacteria that causes strep throat) or other bacteria. If the test result is positive, the results can be used to determine which bacteria are causing the infection.
What kinds of bacteria are commonly found in the throat?
Group A streptococci are bacteria commonly found in the throat and on the skin. People may carry GAS in the throat or on the skin and not become ill.
Does a throat culture test for chlamydia?
As a result, a doctor may swab your throat to test for chlamydia there. They send this swab to a laboratory, which tests the specimen for the presence of DNA from the bacteria that cause chlamydia.
How accurate is strep throat culture?