How long does a throat culture take

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Sources Used in Current Review

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How long does a culture for strep throat take?
What can a throat culture detect?
Will a throat culture show gonorrhea?
Does a throat culture test for all bacteria?

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How long does a culture for strep throat take?

Throat culture. This test looks for strep A bacteria. It provides a more accurate diagnosis than a rapid test, but it can take 24–48 hours to get results.

What can a throat culture detect?

A throat culture or strep test is performed by using a throat swab to detect the presence of group A streptococcus bacteria, the most common cause of strep throat. These bacteria also can cause other infections, including scarlet fever, abscesses, and pneumonia.

Will a throat culture show gonorrhea?

Most bacterial STDs can be detected by bacterial culture. Since culture can detect even very low numbers of bacteria in a simple, it has long been considered the gold standard test for chlamydia and gonorrhea.

Does a throat culture test for all bacteria?

A negative throat swab culture means that no infectious bacteria are present in your throat. A positive test indicates the presence of streptococci (the bacteria that causes strep throat) or other bacteria. If the test result is positive, the results can be used to determine which bacteria are causing the infection.