Strep Testing

DURING YOUR APPOINTMENT:

• Drive to Skippack Pharmacy (upon arriving to the pharmacy’s plaza, drive around to the BACK PARKING LOT of the pharmacy & pull into a parking spot opposite the middle door that you see a sign with a phone number.)  Only AFTER you arrive, please call our direct testing line at 610-584-7937 (please do not hang up until one of our testing members picks up the phone to check you in).
• Please inform our team member the following: 1) First & Last Name and age, 2) You are here for your STREP RAPID ANTIGEN TEST 3) If you paid in advance via credit card or paying cash in person.
• A specialist will come out to your car & hand you a throat swab.  How to perform the test: Stick your tongue out, find the tonsils at the back of the throat and swab tonsils on both sides for a few seconds each (about 4 times). Avoid touching the tongue, cheeks, or teeth with the swab. Insert the throat swab back into the sleeve it came out of.  Once completed, please pass the throat swab back to our team.
• Once you pass the throat swab back to our team in its sleeve, you are ready to go.  Our team will EMAIL you the results as soon as they are processed.
• Please do not arrive earlier than 5 minutes prior to your appointment time. If you need to come earlier or later, you do not need to call or email to inform us, you can come up until 6:15PM on weekdays or 2:15PM on Saturday at the testing site BEHIND Skippack Pharmacy.
• If for any reason, you do not receive a EMAIL within 1-2 hours (also keep an eye out in your spam folder), please call 610-584-7937 with your name, test taken, and time of your appointment.  Our team will work with you to resend the results in the event of a technical glitch.

What is Strep Throat?

Strep throat is a bacterial infection caused by Streptococcus pyogenes also known as group A streptococcus. The infection causes a sore throat that can be extremely painful when swallowing. Strep throat is common in children and seen more often from late fall until early spring.

What are the Symptoms of Strep Throat?

Symptoms of strep throat may include: dark red spots on the roof of the mouth, throat pain, fever, headache, nausea or vomiting, painful swallowing, swollen or red tonsils, white pus-filled patches on the tonsils, and swollen or tender lymph nodes in the neck. Strep throat typically does not involve a cough or runny nose helping to distinguish it from other illnesses.

How Does Strep Throat Spread?

Strep throat is highly contagious and can be easily spread in groups. The bacteria are spread through respiratory droplets from an infected person by talking, coughing or sneezing. It is also possible to get Strep Throat by touching an object where droplets have landed and then touching your face or mouth or by sharing items like water bottles or utensils with an infected person. The best way to prevent Strep throat is to avoid infected people and avoid touching your face. In addition, practice good hygiene practices by frequently washing your hands and coughing or sneezing into your elbow. 

What are Some of the Possible Complications of Strep Throat?

Serious complications after having Strep throat are not common but can occur. These complications can include:

• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
• Sinus infections
• Ear infections
• Rheumatic fever (disease that affects heart, joints, brain and skin)

How is Strep Throat treated?

Antibiotics are used to treat the infection and prevent worsening of symptoms and complications from happening. Over the counter pain relievers and numbing sprays or lozenges may also be used to help treat symptoms associated with Strep throat.