HealthWise KnowledgeBase
Throat Culture
Why It Is Done
A throat culture may be done to:
- Find the cause of a sore throat. Most sore throat infections are caused by a virus. A throat culture shows the difference between a bacterial infection and a viral infection. Finding the organism that is causing the infection can guide treatment.
- Check a person who may not have any symptoms of infection but who carries bacteria that can spread to others. This person is called a carrier.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference June 12, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Reference Donald R. Mintz, MD - Otolaryngology |
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