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Throat swabs

Throat swabs

Overview

A throat swab can be used to determine if Group A Streptococcus bacteria is the cause of pharyngitis in a patient.

Review Date 3/16/2024

Updated by: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.