Throat swab culture is a laboratory test done to isolate and identify organisms that may cause infection in the throat.
Alternative Names:
Throat culture and sensitivity; Culture - throat
How the test is performed:
Tilt your head back with your mouth wide open. The back of the throat is swabbed with a sterile cotton swab near the tonsils. Resist gagging and closing the mouth while the swab touches the back of the throat near the tonsils.
In order to improve the chances of detecting bacteria, the swab may be used to scrape the back of the throat several times.
How to prepare for the test:
Do not use antiseptic mouthwashes before the test.
How the test will feel:
Your throat may be sore at the time the test is taken. You may experience a gagging sensation when the back of your throat is touched with the swab, but the test only lasts a few seconds.
Review Date: 6/18/2007
Reviewed By: Mark Levin, MD, Division of Infectious Disease, MacNeal Hospital, Berwyn, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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