Strep Test in Charlotte, Rock Hill, & Lancaster
Getting a Strep Test
Does your sore throat require a strep test?
Many illnesses or viruses can cause a sore throat. However, strep throat occurs following an infection by group A streptococcus bacteria. The bacterial infection spreads through respiratory droplets found in coughing or sneezing.
Carolina Pharmacy offers strep tests in Charlotte, Rock Hill, and Lancaster to provide accurate diagnosis. Identifying the appropriate illness early allows patients to access appropriate treatment and feel better faster.
What Is a Strep Test?
A strep infection can only be officially diagnosed through a throat culture or rapid strep test by a healthcare professional. This is a diagnostic test to check for the strep A bacteria which may cause your symptoms.
Patients who have had sore throat symptoms for several days should consider getting tested. Common symptoms of strep throat include:
- A sore throat that may arise quickly
- Pain with swallowing
- Fever
- Red, swollen tonsils
- White spots on the tonsils
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
Strep throat is most common in children ages 5-15, but it can develop in any patient.
What to Expect
Before performing a strep test, your pharmacist may ask about your symptoms. A throat swab uses a cotton swab to gently collect a testing sample. The sample is tested to show if the strep bacteria are causing your symptoms.
If your test is positive, your physician may prescribe antibiotics to help clear the infection. If the test is negative but strep throat is still suspected, a throat culture may be done to see if the bacteria will grow on the sample. Since children are susceptible to rheumatic fever from an untreated strep infection, a culture may be recommended.
With a rapid strep test, results are available in less than 20 minutes. A throat culture may take 1-2 days to get results.
Schedule Your Dual COVID and Flu Test in Charlotte, Rock Hill, and Lancaster
At Carolina Pharmacy, we offer strep tests in Charlotte, Rock Hill, and Lancaster. Contact any of our convenient pharmacy locations for more information on viral tests, rapid COVID testing, travel testing, or vaccination. We are happy to serve you!
