When you experience a sore throat, your doctor may take a throat swab.  This is a small amount of cotton wrapped around the end of a stick.  It is rubbed over the tonsils and other areas and sent off to the lab.

In the lab, we rub the swab on the surface of a round plate of gelatin containing nutrients that encourage the growth of bacteria.  The next day we can see what kind of bacteria inhabit your throat.

Most sore throats are caused by viruses and the bacteria that grow are the same as what would be found in a normal person’s throat.  Of particular interest, especially in children, is the presence of Beta hemolytic Streptococcus.  If found, it indicates the patient must take penicillin (or erythromycin) for a full course of therapy.  Beta hemolytic Strept. is known to cause heart valve disease (Rheumatic Fever) and kidney disease (Glomerulonephritis).

There is a test known as the “Rapid Strep Test” that can provide an answer in 30 minutes compared with 24 – 48 hours using the standard technique.  Unfortunately, this test has a small but significant error rate.  We do not recommend taking such a risk and therefore we do not perform the test.