Walk-in Rapid Strep Test in Dalton GA | AFC Urgent Care

The Rapid Strep Test is quick and straightforward. With a simple swab of the throat, you will receive your results in 6 minutes or less.

When strep throat is left untreated, it can result in various complications, including nephritis or rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever can lead to painful and swollen joints, an irritating rash, and even potential damage to the heart valves.

Strep throat is a frequently occurring bacterial infection that is caused by Group A Streptococcus. This infection is highly contagious and can lead to various uncomfortable symptoms such as throat pain, fever and swollen lymph nodes.

Typical symptoms of strep throat include:

• Sudden throat pain
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Fever
• Rash
• Swollen and reddened tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus
• Small red spots on the area at the back of the roof of the mouth
• Swollen and tender lymph nodes in your neck
• Headache
• Nausea/vomiting, particularly in younger children
• Body aches

Strep throat is most prevalent among children aged 5 to 15, although individuals of all ages can be affected. Those who spend a significant amount of time in crowded environments, such as schools, daycares and offices, are also at a higher risk of developing strep throat. If you suspect that you or your child may have strep throat, we urge you to visit AFC Urgent Care promptly for testing and treatment.

Accuracy is of utmost importance when it comes to diagnosing strep throat. That’s why rapid strep testing is the preferred method. The rapid strep test has a 98.5% accuracy rate in identifying people with a strep infection. This means that out of 100 tested individuals, 98 of them will receive an accurate result. When discussing accuracy, it is essential to consider two factors: Sensitivity and Specificity.

If you suspect that you have strep throat, it is crucial to undergo testing and receive prompt treatment. The sooner you get tested, the faster you will recover and prevent spreading the infection to others. Taking antibiotics prescribed by your healthcare provider should lead to improved symptoms and a quick return to your regular routine. Do not delay seeking treatment and make sure to get tested as soon as possible.

Sensitivity measures how often a test correctly identifies those who have a strep infection. A test with high sensitivity will not lead to many false-negative outcomes and will be able to detect almost everyone who has the disease.

Specificity measures how often a test correctly identifies those who don’t have a strep infection. A test with high specificity will correctly exclude individuals who don’t have the disease and will not generate many false-positive results.

Our strep testing is highly accurate when it comes to detecting group A strep, exhibiting 98.5% sensitivity and 93.4% specificity.