0
A throat swab culture is a laboratory test done to isolate and identify organisms that may cause infection in the throat.
Alternative NamesThroat culture and sensitivity; Culture - throat
How the test is performedYou will be asked to tilt your head back and open your mouth wide. The health care provider rubs a sterile cotton swab along the back of your throat near the tonsils. You need to resist gagging and closing the mouth while the swab touches this area.
The health care provider may need to scrape the back of the throat with the swab several times. This helps improve the chances of detecting bacteria.
How to prepare for the testDo not use antiseptic mouthwashes before the test.
How the test will feelYour throat may be sore at the time the test is taken. You may experience a gagging sensation when the back of your throat is touched with the swab, but the test only lasts a few seconds.
Why the test is performedThe test is performed when a throat infection is suspected, particularly strep throat. A throat culture can also help your doctor determine which antibiotics will work best for you.
Normal ValuesThe presence of the usual mouth and throat bacteria is a normal finding.
What abnormal results meanAn abnormal result means bacteria or other organism is present. This is usually a sign of infection.
What the risks areThis test is safe and well-tolerated. In very few patients, the sensation of gagging may lead to an urge to vomit or cough.
ReferencesCaserta MT, Flores AR. Pharyngitis. In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2009:chap 54.
Bisno AL, Stevens DL. Streptococcus pyogenes. In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2009:chap 198.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
How much does a throat swab culture cost?
The cost of a throat swab culture can vary depending on the healthcare provider, location, insurance coverage, and any additional testing required. Without insurance, the cost can range from $50 to $200. It's best to check with your healthcare provider or insurance company for specific pricing information.
How is laryngitis diagnosed?
Laryngitis is typically diagnosed through a physical examination by a healthcare provider. This may involve a review of symptoms, a throat examination, and sometimes a swab test to check for infections. In some cases, additional tests such as a laryngoscopy or throat culture may be recommended.
How would you use swab in a sentence?
In the old days a nurse used a cotton swap and alcohol to sterilize injection sites. Or the nurse used a cotton ball to swab the blood off my head. OR The oil company uses a swab to clean pipe.
Can you list all the words that begin with swa?
I can provide some examples: swan, swat, swap.
Latex agglutination test?
DefinitionThe latex agglutination test is a laboratory method to check for certain antibodiesor antigens in a variety of bodily fluids including saliva, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, or blood.How the test is performedThe test depends on what type of sample is needed.For a urine sample, see urine collection -- clean catch or urine collection (infants).For a blood sample, see venipuncture.For a cerebrospinal fluid sample, see CSF collection.The sample is sent to a lab, where it is mixed with latex beads coated with a specific antibody or antigen. If the suspected substance is present, the latex beads will clump together (agglutinate).For example, if your health care provider suspects that your child has strep throat, a throat swab is taken. The sample is mixed with latex beads that are coated with antibodies against the bacteria. If your child has strep throat, the bacteria in the sample will react with the antibodies on the latex particles causing clumping.Latex agglutination results take about 15 minutes to an hour.How to prepare for the testYour health care provider may tell you to limit certain foods or medications shortly before the test to ensure accurate test results.How the test will feelHow the test feels depends on how the sample is collected.Why the test is performedThis test is a quick way to determine the absence or presence of an antigen or antibody. Your health care provider will base any treatment decisions, at least in part, on the results of this test.Normal ValuesNormal values reveal no agglutination.Note: Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.What abnormal results meanIf there is an antigen-antibody match, agglutination will occur.What the risks areRisks depend on how the sample is collected.
What part of throat do you swab for a culture And why?
back of the throat and tonsils
How much does a throat swab culture cost?
The cost of a throat swab culture can vary depending on the healthcare provider, location, insurance coverage, and any additional testing required. Without insurance, the cost can range from $50 to $200. It's best to check with your healthcare provider or insurance company for specific pricing information.
Does my son have strep throat?
Please take him to the physician. He will go for culture of the throat swab and then let you know the same.
Do bright red spots on side of tongue indicate strep throat?
You can not know the cause of sore throat on clinical examination. You need to do the throat swab culture for the same.
How do you find out if you have a strep throat?
There is rapid latex particle test for streptococcal antigen. If negative, then you have to go for throat swab culture. This will differentiate between sore throat, strep versus non strep.
How is a throat culture done?
The specimen for throat culture is obtained by wiping the patient's throat with a cotton swab. The patient is asked to tilt the head back and open the mouth wide. With the tongue depressed and the patient saying "ah," the care provider wipes.
What pharmaceutical medicines are used to cure Strep Throat or Thrush?
You need to take tablet penicillin V 250 mg there times a day for ten days, when throat swab culture is not done for sore throat or is not available.
How do you get tested for chlamydia in your throat?
A special chlamydia throat swab tests for chlamydia in your throat.
Is a gram stain of a throat swab useful for making a rapid presumptive diagnosis of strep throat?
NO
What causes thyroid nodules other than cold?
Nodules in the throat can be caused by abusing alcohol. Nodules can also form in the throat from long-term smoking.
Are gram negative rods significant in throat swab cultures?
no
What can stop strep throat?
Strep throat is a bacterial infection that requires diagnosis by a doctor who takes a swab of the throat to culture the bacteria and identify it. The remedy for strep throat is antibiotic treatment. Symptoms of sore throat can be helped by gargle of warm salt water and sipping warm tea with lemon and honey. But unless diagnosed and treated properly strep throat can be very dangerous.
