Strep throat test question

[Pixiedust34]

If you have strep, will the test show a positive at the very onset of the infection?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Maybe or maybe not. It that a good answer?

I have a dd who can show negative rapid test and then have it with the culture.

 

[mtemm]

our peds office told us the rapid test will show positive if there is strep but only after 24 hours of symptoms. the regular strep test I believe shows positive with any length of time, but takes 3 days to come back. so we usually wait 24 hours before heading in for a test (they do run both tests, btw). so to answer your question, the regular test should so positive from what I understand, but takes 3 days to come back, whereas the rapid most likely won't show positive until 24 hours after the start of symptoms

I will say my middle child doesn't always display typical strep symptoms, so the rapid can come back positive for him even though he hasn't had symptoms for 24 hours. obviously he was sick for at least that, we just didn't know it. (have had him tested when his brother and sister both come back positive)

 

[shortbun]

We've heard the same thing, takes about a day for the strep to show up on the fast test.

 

[stichy]

Everytime my son has had strep the rapid test comes back negative and then we get a call a day or two later saying the culture was positive.

 

[4chitlins]

My 7 year old daughter has had strep 6 times since Feb.She has tested positive every time on the rapid test.I know that sometimes when she has been on antibiotics she has to wait 4 or 5 days after finishing the meds before she tests positive again

 

[disney1990]

I remember over and over again I would take my daughters to the Peds because they had a sore throat. They would be tested and I would be told they did not have strep. Several days later they would still be sick, we would go back to the doctors and the test would be positive for strep. AACCKKKKKK

 

[Pixiedust34]

Thanks for the info. My ds tested positive for strep 2 days ago. Yesterday my dd developed a sore throat. I'll be taking her in for the test at 8:30 today. If it is strep, I hope that she'll get a positive reading this morning so she can start the antibiotics. Since the onset was yesterday, hopefully (if it is strep, which is probably is since her brother has it) the test results will be accurate.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I think the rapid test has a really poor success rate. My kids Dr always uses it on them but will prescribe antibiotics even if the test doesn't agree with him.

I hope you recover quickly, the sore throat from Strep is awful. Feel better soon.

 

[Pixiedust34]

Thanks again, everyone. The rapid test read positive and now dd can start the antibiotics.

Now that both kids officially have strep, I'm hoping dh and I will somehow not get it!

 

[dejr_8]

My 7 year old daughter has had strep 6 times since Feb.She has tested positive every time on the rapid test.I know that sometimes when she has been on antibiotics she has to wait 4 or 5 days after finishing the meds before she tests positive again

Have you considered getting her tonsils removed? We had a similar situation with our younger son (Strep every month). Tonsils removed no more issues.

 

[mtemm]

glad she is on meds and on the mend. our kids get strep every once in a while and dh and I haven't gotten it, so hopefully you will luck out.

speaking of strep, I wonder if it is going around? my DD6 just told me her throat hurt and she is running a slight temp (100). ugh. praying its NOT strep (she is allergic to two different antibiotics, so we try to keep her off of any when possible). guess we'll be heading to the peds tomorrow to find out.

 

[karibritt01]

My 7 year old daughter has had strep 6 times since Feb.She has tested positive every time on the rapid test.I know that sometimes when she has been on antibiotics she has to wait 4 or 5 days after finishing the meds before she tests positive again

We had that happen, so the Dr had everyone in the house tested to find out if anyone was a carrier. Turned out my DH and both kids were carriers. (I was the one who kept getting sick.) They treated the whole family with antibiotics, and we haven't had it since. *knock on wood*

 

[heatherleigh]

I get this about once or twice a yr. Last year, I tested negative with the rapid, but the culture came back as positive. The urgent care never called to make me aware of this, and I was about to see another physician to get a second opinion. I called the urgent care facility to double-check, which is when they told me, "oh yeah, it was positive btw".

I came down with it again a few days ago and It did show up on the rapid. I've been on antibiotics for two days, and I'm finally feeling good enough to get up out of bed. I wish I could just get my tonsils removed. It's scary to have your throat swell and feel like you can't breathe. That was worse than the pain.