What happens during a strep A test?
A rapid test and a throat culture are done in the same way. During the procedure:
You will be asked to tilt your head back and open your mouth as wide as possible.
Your health care provider will use a tongue depressor to hold down your tongue.
He or she will use a special swab to take a sample from the back of your throat and tonsils.
The sample may be used to do a rapid strep test in the provider's office. Sometimes the sample is sent to a lab.
Your provider may take a second sample and send it to a lab for a throat culture if necessary.
