Throat Culture

• If you need to be tested for strep throat, the choice between a rapid strep test and a throat culture may not be clear. Talk to your doctor about the rapid strep test versus a throat culture.
• A culture that does not grow any bacteria or fungus generally means that you either have a viral infection or that an infection is not present. Other things, such as the amount of sample, the timing of the sample, the type of culture done, and recent use of antibiotics, can prevent the growth of bacteria or fungus in the culture.
• Reference Sensitivity testing may be done to help choose the antibiotic that will best treat the bacteria causing an infection.
• Some people carry bacteria but do not have symptoms of an infection. A throat culture is generally done only if the person's medical history and physical examination suggest that an infection is present.

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