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Test Overview
A throat culture is a test to detect and identify a bacterial, fungal, or viral infection in the throat. A sample of material swabbed from the throat is placed in a container with substances that promote the growth of disease-causing organisms. If disease-causing organisms grow, the culture is positive. The type of organism is identified using a microscope, chemical tests, or both. If no organisms grow, the culture is negative.
Examples of disease-causing organisms that may be found during a throat culture include:
- Candida albicans. This fungus causes thrush, an infection of the mouth and tongue and sometimes of the throat. See an illustration of thrush in the mouth.
- Neisseria meningitidis. This bacteria can cause meningitis.
- Group A streptococcus. This bacteria can cause strep throat, scarlet fever, and rheumatic fever. If strep throat is suspected, a test called a rapid strep test (or quick strep) may be done before doing a throat culture. With a rapid strep test, results are received in less than 10 minutes (instead of 1 to 2 days with a throat culture). If the rapid strep test results are positive, antibiotics can be started immediately. A throat culture is more accurate than the rapid strep test. The rapid strep test can give false-negative results even when strep bacteria are present.
- When the results of a rapid strep test are negative, many doctors recommend doing a throat culture to confirm that strep throat is not present.
- If disease-causing organisms grow in the culture, other tests may be done to determine which antibiotic will be most effective in treating the infection.
- This is called susceptibility or sensitivity testing.
A throat culture is done on material that is collected from the throat using a clean swab.
