Can Cvs Test For Strep Throat (2024)

FAQs

How effective are over the counter strep tests? ›

At-home strep tests aren't always 100% accurate, but they're generally more reliable than not. According to a 2016 review, home tests correctly identify strep throat in only 86% of people who have it. Based on these results, the test would return a negative result for 14% of those who do actually have strep throat.

Community Pharmacy Primary Care Clinics

These services include assessment and prescribing for Strep Throat, Pink Eye, UTIs, Chronic Disease Management (Diabetes, Asthma, COPD), prescription renewals for all medications and more.

The sensitivity of the rapid test may be as high as 95% depending upon the manufacturer, meaning very few people with a true strep infection will have a negative test result.

Viral infections are a more common cause of sore throat than strep bacteria, so if strep tests are negative, a viral infection may be the culprit. Viral throat infections may include additional symptoms such as cough, runny nose or inflamed eyes.

Accuracy of At-Home Strep Tests

Done correctly, at-home strep tests accurately detect strep about 86% of the time, according to a 2016 study. 5 A negative test is estimated to be accurate about 95% of the time. False-negative results, in which strep throat is present but the test shows it is not, can occur.

Rapid strep test kits are available over the counter at drugstores and do not require a doctor's prescription. These tests are quick and easy to use, giving you results in as little as five minutes. It works just like a rapid test that doctors perform.

You Can't Tell if it's Strep Without a Test

It's impossible to be sure if someone has strep throat without a test, but it does have some classic symptoms. Common symptoms of strep throat include: Fever. Red, swollen tonsils (that may have white patches or pus)

If the rapid strep test indicates a strep infection, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics. But some negative rapid strep test results are false (meaning someone actually has a strep throat infection even though the rapid strep results were negative).

We offer a variety of tests, including blood glucose, COVID-19, cholesterol, flu, mono, pregnancy, strep and STI/STD tests.

Does Strep Throat Always Cause a Fever? There are many symptoms associated with strep throat. While it's common for individuals to experience a fever when infected with strep throat, it's possible some people won't have a fever at all. You can be infected with group A Streptococcus and experience no fever.

Can strep go away without antibiotics? ›

Strep throat typically goes away in three to seven days with or without antibiotic treatment. However, if you don't take antibiotics, you can remain contagious for two to three weeks and are at a higher risk for complications, such as rheumatic fever.

Sometimes viral illnesses cause a sore throat that may be mistaken for strep throat. These include common cold viruses, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), influenza (the "flu"), croup, mononucleosis (“mono”), measles, and chickenpox.

A viral sore throat is typically accompanied by other cold-like symptoms, such as cough, sneeze, runny nose and a hoarse or raspy voice. “A strep infection can make it feel very painful to swallow, and often comes with fever of 101-degrees or higher,” said Schairer.

If a strep test is negative, a healthcare provider may confirm the results with a throat culture, considering the rapid test may miss around 14% of cases. Once strep throat is ruled out, a healthcare provider will consider other diagnoses, notably viral infections like the common cold and flu.

A rapid strep test involves a quick throat swab. Within minutes, the test can detect group A streptococcus bacteria, which can cause strep throat and other infections (including scarlet fever, abscesses, and pneumonia). Explaining the test in terms your child can understand might help ease any fear.

Symptom relievers

To relieve throat pain and reduce fever, try over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others). Use caution when giving aspirin to children or teenagers.

The clinical issue is that rapid strep tests have very high specificity – in the range of 98 percent to 99 percent – so there are very few false positives. However, the sensitivity of most current rapid strep tests ranges from 90 percent to 95 percent, so there is a greater chance of false negatives.

See a Provider from Home with a Video Chat for Strep

Strep can typically be diagnosed with virtual care for strep at Advanced Urgent Care.