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All about strep throat

A rapid molecular strep throat test will help your clinician determine whether you need antibiotics. A rapid molecular strep test will give you answers in minutes without the need for a follow-up throat culture, so you can begin treatment sooner.

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Strep throat should be treated with antibiotics

  • Antibiotics are the best treatment for strep throat, and starting them early can help you feel better sooner, prevent complications, and reduce the spread of the infection1,2
  • It is important for clinicians to have a clear and accurate diagnosis of strep throat before prescribing antibiotics to help you get treated sooner and reduce overuse of antibiotics2
  • Strep throat cannot be diagnosed just by examining you2
  • With a traditional rapid test for strep throat, a follow-up test may be required to confirm results, which can take at least 24-48 hours to get results back from the lab2
  • Rapid molecular tests can return accurate answers in as little as two minutes, without the need for a follow-up throat culture, so your clinician can diagnose strep and confidently prescribe treatment in the same office visit3
Common symptoms of strep throat
  • Fever or chills
  • Sore throat
  • Pain when swallowing
  • Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus
  • Tiny, red spots (petechiae - pronounced pi-TEE-kee-eye) on the roof of the mouth (the soft or hard palate)
  • Swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck

Experiencing symptoms?

Learn more about strep throat symptoms, treatments, and potential complications, as well as how rapid molecular tests can quickly and accurately identify strep throat bacteria so you can start the right treatment earlier and get well sooner.

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Treatment can help prevent serious complications2

The earlier you get diagnosed with strep throat, the better. Not only will you feel better sooner, you can reduce the spread of the infection, and prevent serious complications.

Without proper treatment, the bacteria that causes strep throat can spread to other parts of the body.1 This can cause your immune system to overreact, which - although rare - can cause damage throughout your body and result in symptoms such as4:

  • Fever, painful joints, fatigue, and jerky body movements4
  • Rheumatic heart disease and symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, new heart murmurs, enlarged heart, and fluid around the heart4
  • Scarlet fever, and long-term kidney disease5

Rapid molecular testing for strep throat can allow you to start treatment faster, avoid complications, and get back to school or work sooner.2

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This program will teach you about rapid tests and how they can quickly identify illnesses like the flu, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and strep throat. Rapid testing can help you get treated earlier and get well sooner.

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Keep reading

1. “Strep Throat: All You Need to Know.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Last reviewed January 12, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/groupastrep/diseases-public/strep-throat.html.

2. Schulman, Stanford T., et al. "Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Group A Strepococcal Pharyngitis: 2012 Update by the Infectious Disease Society of America." Clinical Infectious Diesease 55, no. 10 (November 15, 2012): e86-102. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/cis629. 

3. “ID Now Strep A 2 Quick Reference Instructions." Abbott, 2020.

4. “Rheumatic Fever: All You Need to Know." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Last reviewed November 1, 2018. https://www.cdc.gov/groupastrep/diseases-public/rheumatic-fever.html.

5. “Post-Strepococcal Glomerulonephritis: All You Need to Know." Centers for Disease C0ntrol and Prevention (CDC). Last reviewed March 22, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/groupastrep/diseases-public/post-streptococcal.html.

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