Fast, Accurate Strep Throat Testing in Hickory, NC

Our rapid strep test delivers results in six minutes or less. The test requires only a quick throat swab, making it simple and minimally uncomfortable for both children and adults.

If strep throat is not properly treated, it can lead to serious complications. These may include kidney inflammation or rheumatic fever, a condition that can cause painful joint swelling, distinctive rashes, and even permanent heart valve damage. Early testing and treatment greatly reduce these risks.

Strep throat is a bacterial infection that affects the throat and tonsils. It is caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria and is different from viral sore throats, which do not require antibiotics.

Strep throat symptoms often appear suddenly and may include:

• Severe throat pain
• Pain when swallowing
• Fever
• Rash
• Red, swollen tonsils with white patches or pus
• Small red spots on the roof of the mouth
• Swollen or tender lymph nodes in the neck
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting, especially in children
• General body aches

Strep throat occurs most often in children, but people of all ages can get it. If you or your child are experiencing symptoms, AFC Urgent Care provides quick testing and treatment without an appointment.

Rapid strep testing is both fast and highly reliable. Our test accurately detects strep infections 98.5% of the time. Test accuracy is measured using two key factors: sensitivity and specificity.

When strep throat is confirmed, our providers typically prescribe antibiotics. Most patients can return to work or school the next day and begin feeling better sooner. Prompt treatment also helps prevent spreading the infection to others.

Sensitivity refers to how well a test identifies people who truly have strep throat. A highly sensitive test minimizes false negatives and catches nearly all infections.

Specificity measures how accurately a test identifies people who do not have strep throat. A highly specific test reduces false positives and helps avoid unnecessary treatment.

Our rapid strep test has a sensitivity rate of 98.5% and a specificity rate of 93.4% for detecting group A strep. On average, this means false negatives occur about 1.5% of the time, while false positives occur approximately 6.6% of the time.