Throat Culture

Quick Strep Test, Rapid Strep Test

What Affects the Test

Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:

• Taking antibiotics recently. This may prevent the growth of an infection in the culture.
• Contamination of the throat culture sample by other types of bacteria from the mouth.
• Using antiseptic mouthwashes before the culture is taken.

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: September 19, 2006
Medical Review:	Tom Bailey, MD - Family Medicine Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Charles M. Myer, III, MD - Otolaryngology
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