Lab & testing

Strep Test

Rapid strep test in north Houston: a quick throat swab with results during your visit, and treatment before you leave if it's positive.

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The rapid strep test uses a swab from the back of the throat to tell you, during the same visit, whether your sore throat is caused by group A strep bacteria. We do it for kids and adults with a badly irritated throat, fever or trouble swallowing.

Virus or bacteria?

A lot of sore throats come from a virus and clear up on their own; antibiotics do nothing for those. Strep is different: it needs an antibiotic to stop the spread and to prevent complications like an abscess next to the tonsils or rheumatic fever. That's why it pays to confirm it with a test instead of guessing from symptoms.

Signs that point to strep

Fever that comes on suddenly
Sharp pain when swallowing, without a cough or runny nose
Very red tonsils or tonsils with white spots
Swollen, tender lumps in the neck
In kids, stomach pain or vomiting along with the sore throat

What is the test like?

You open wide, stick out your tongue and the swab brushes the tonsils and the back of the throat for a few seconds. It may make you gag, but it doesn't hurt. The result comes back while you wait. If it's positive, the medical team prescribes an antibiotic and sends the e-prescription to the pharmacy you choose. If it's negative, we look at whether it's a viral respiratory infection and how to ease it.

What should you do at home?

Take every dose of the antibiotic, even once the fever is gone
Replace your toothbrush once you start to improve
Don't share cups, utensils or bottles with family members
Ask the medical team when your child can go back to school

When should you go to the ER?

If you can't swallow even your own saliva, you're drooling, it's hard to breathe or you can barely open your mouth, skip the test and go to the emergency room.

What if the pain starts in the afternoon?

You don't have to tough it out until tomorrow: we run the test until 9 PM every day at 13331 Kuykendahl Rd Ste 128 in north Houston. We tell you the price before taking the swab.

Included in this service

Quick throat swab

Result during your visit

Antibiotic prescribed if positive

Kids and adults, walk-ins welcome

Ready to schedule your appointment?

Call us now or visit us — no appointment needed

+1 (281) 789-0484

Frequently Asked Questions

It can happen, though it isn't common. If the test is negative but your symptoms strongly suggest strep, the medical team takes that into account, tells you which warning signs to watch for and when to come back.

Only those with symptoms. Strep spreads through saliva and droplets from coughing, so if someone at home starts running a fever or hurting when they swallow, bring them in for their own test. Healthy people don't get antibiotics.

Ideally, don't eat, drink or gargle with mouthwash in the half hour before, since that can reduce the bacteria in the sample. If you already did, just let us know and we'll run the test anyway.