health

If a patient’s sore throat and other symptoms match those of a common
viral cold or respiratory infection, the doctor may base the diagnosis on
the physical symptoms alone. Nasal and throat swabs can be tested to
detect other causes of a sore throat, if necessary.
If the doctor suspects that a patient might have a strep throat infection,
the doctor uses a cotton swab to take a sample from the throat and
tonsils for a culture*. Often, the doctor will do a rapid strep test of the
bacteria from the throat swab in the office. This quick test can give the
doctor results in 10 to 15 minutes. A positive result indicates that strep
bacteria are present; a negative result means that the strep bacteria may or
may not be present and the more extensive culture should be done.
Infectious mononucleosis is diagnosed by examining blood samples
for antibodies* to the virus.