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PATIENT INFORMATION
CLA: STREP SCREEN
STREP THROAT
Sore throat is one of the most common of human ailments and the term covers a wide variety of causes. Infections cause most sore throats that persist more than an hour or two. Of these infections, most are viral in origin with literally hundreds of viral types capable of causing sore throat-“common-cold” and “flu” viruses, measles, chickenpox, “mono” and “fever-blisters” in the mouth- just to name a few. Unfortunately, viruses are not killed by antibiotics, making viruses more difficult to treat.
Bacteria also cause sore throat and, fortunately, many types do respond to antibiotic treatment. Examples of major bacterial causes of sore throats are streptococci (“strep throat”), hemophilus (also common in children), and the mycoplasma bacterium. Each of these bacteria is capable of causing severe illness or even death and should be treated.
“Strep throat” is experienced by at least 1 in every 10 Americans each year and up to 1/3 of all sore throats are caused by the streptococcus organism. Though common, this bacterium can cause serious complications, including abscesses in the throat, tonsillitis, ear and sinus infections, pneumonia, kidney infections, rheumatic fever and scarlet fever. Consequently, it’s very important to know whether a sore throat is or is not caused by the streptococcus bacterium and to treat it if it is.
STREP TESTS
There are several ways to test for the presence of streptococci on a throat swab. Until fairly recently, clinical laboratories performed a test that relied on the person’s immune system to produce antibodies to a product of the streptococcus organism that could then be measured.
Also, the throat swab could be placed on a culture medium and, over 24-48 hrs, if present, the bacterium would grow and then be identified. Currently, a new test is available which accurately and rapidly identifies chemicals from the bacterium, called the Rapid Strep Screen. On occasion, a throat swab from a person with a sore throat will be determined by the Rapid Street Screen not to contain the streptococcus bacterium when, in fact it, does. To avoid this, PRL automatically performs a culture on all Rapid Strep Screens that are reported negative. The culture is examined several times over 24-48 hours to make sure no streptococcus organisms are growing.
YOUR TEST RESULTS
If your Rapid Strep Screen is reported positive, this means that streptococci are present on the swab sample taken from your throat. You should take these results to and seek treatment from a community physician of your choice. If your Rapid Strep Screen is reported negative, PRL will culture your specimen and report the result back to you after 48 hrs by the communication means you have selected. If the culture is reported positive for the streptococcus organism, you should seek treatment from a physician.
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