What Is a Throat Culture? When Do I Need One?

A throat culture is a laboratory test that checks for the presence of bacteria or fungi in the throat. It can help diagnose infections such as strep throat, tonsillitis, and diphtheria.

Your doctor may recommend a throat culture if you have symptoms such as:

* Sore throat

* Difficulty swallowing

* Hoarseness

* Swollen lymph nodes in the neck

* Fever

* Headache

* Muscle aches

* Fatigue

To perform a throat culture, your doctor or nurse will use a sterile cotton swab to collect a sample of cells from the back of your throat. The sample will then be sent to a laboratory for analysis.

The results of your throat culture will usually be available within a few days. If you have an infection, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics or other medications to treat it.

Throat cultures are a simple and effective way to diagnose infections of the throat. They can help your doctor determine the best course of treatment for your condition.