Lab medicine » Microbiology

Throat bacterial swab

A throat swab examination is essentially to look for exclude Group A beta-haemolytic streptococci . Other types of streptococci (groups C and G) are also tested for during epidemics. Press the tongue firmly with a wooden spatula.Take the sample from both tonsils and the palatal arches, preferably from areas with exudate. Culture immediately on a special plate (blood agar) or send the specimen in a Stuart tube. Keep the specimen in a warm incubator for 18 - 24 hours. A clear (not greenish) zone around an inoculation of bacteria indicates beta-haemolytic streptococci. Group A streptococci are identified by an inhibition ring (absence of haemolysis) around a bacitracin disk

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