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22851 Rapid Strep Screen

Rapid Strep Screen
Test Code: RAPST
Synonyms/Keywords
​​Rapid Group A Strep, Group A Strep Antigen
Useful For
​A qualitative test for the detection  of strep A antigen from throat swab specimens to aid in the the diagnosis of Group A Streptococcal infection.
Specimen Requirements
 
 
Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		 Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
​Swab See below​See belowSee below ​ ​
Collection Processing Instructions

Remove a polyester swab provided in the rapid antigen kit and flocked swab from the purple ESwab kit. Using both swabs, simultaneously swab the posterior pharynx, tonsils and inflamed areas.

Avoid touching the tongue, cheeks, teeth and any areas that are bleeding with the swab.

Place the polyester swab back in the wrapper for rapid antigen testing.  Place the flocked swab into the ESwab tube and break off the shaft at the red score point. If the RAPST is negative, refer the ESwab for confirmatory testing by PCR to the nearest performing site.

Notes:

  • Two swabs are always required to perform both rapid antigen and if needed, confirmatory PCR testing.
  • Swabs in Amies gel and ESwab are not acceptable for the rapid antigen detection. 
  • Dry swabs must be delivered to the local lab within 4 hours of collection.
  • Puritan polyester swabs cannot be used to perform the follow up PCR testing.

See ESwab collection video for more information

For more information on Specimen Collection Media/Swab, see Specimen Transport Pictorial.

Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
Dry swab ​Room Temperature ​< 4 hours
Rejection Criteria
Specimens from a source other than the throat
Wooden shafted swabs​
Calcium alginate swabs​
Cotton-tipped swabs​
Swabs submitted in semisolid media (e.g. blue cap CultureSwab Plus)​
​Dry swabs > 4 hours old
​Dry swab for confirmatory culture
​Leaking specimens
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
Bloomer​ ​Monday through Friday ​​Less than 2 hours ​​Lateral Flow Membrane Immunoassay
​Cadott ​Monday through Friday ​​Less than 2 hours ​​Lateral Flow Membrane Immunoassay
​ClairemontMonday through Friday​Less than 2 hours​Lateral Flow Membrane Immunoassay
​Cornell ​Monday through Friday ​​Less than 2 hours ​​Lateral Flow Membrane Immunoassay
​Eagle River ​Monday through Friday ​​Less than 2 hours ​​Lateral Flow Membrane Immunoassay
Rhinelander​ ​Monday through Friday ​Less than 2 hours Lateral Flow Membrane Immunoassay ​​
​Stratford ​Monday through Friday ​​Less than 2 hours ​​Lateral Flow Membrane Immunoassay
​Wittenberg ​Monday through Friday ​​Less than 2 hours ​​Lateral Flow Membrane Immunoassay
Test Information

​Negative Antigen tests will be confirmed with a follow up by PCR. 

Request for culture of Group A Streptococcus only without antigen testing should be ordered as Culture, Group A Strep Only (GAS).
Requests for other beta-hemolytic Streptococci or Arcanobacterium haemolyticum should be ordered as Culture, Strep, Throat Only (STR).

Reference Range Information
Performing Location Reference Range
All Performing Sites ​Negative
Synonyms/Keywords
​​Rapid Group A Strep, Group A Strep Antigen
Ordering Applications

Ordering Application Description
COM
 Rapid Strep Antigen
​Cerner​Rapid Strep Antigen

If the ordering application you are looking for is not listed, contact your local laboratory for assistance.
Specimen Requirements
 
 
Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		 Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
​Swab See below​See belowSee below ​ ​
Collection Processing

Remove a polyester swab provided in the rapid antigen kit and flocked swab from the purple ESwab kit. Using both swabs, simultaneously swab the posterior pharynx, tonsils and inflamed areas.

Avoid touching the tongue, cheeks, teeth and any areas that are bleeding with the swab.

Place the polyester swab back in the wrapper for rapid antigen testing.  Place the flocked swab into the ESwab tube and break off the shaft at the red score point. If the RAPST is negative, refer the ESwab for confirmatory testing by PCR to the nearest performing site.

Notes:

  • Two swabs are always required to perform both rapid antigen and if needed, confirmatory PCR testing.
  • Swabs in Amies gel and ESwab are not acceptable for the rapid antigen detection. 
  • Dry swabs must be delivered to the local lab within 4 hours of collection.
  • Puritan polyester swabs cannot be used to perform the follow up PCR testing.

See ESwab collection video for more information

For more information on Specimen Collection Media/Swab, see Specimen Transport Pictorial.

Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
Dry swab ​Room Temperature ​< 4 hours
Rejection Criteria
Specimens from a source other than the throat
Wooden shafted swabs​
Calcium alginate swabs​
Cotton-tipped swabs​
Swabs submitted in semisolid media (e.g. blue cap CultureSwab Plus)​
​Dry swabs > 4 hours old
​Dry swab for confirmatory culture
​Leaking specimens
Useful For
​A qualitative test for the detection  of strep A antigen from throat swab specimens to aid in the the diagnosis of Group A Streptococcal infection.
Reference Range Information
Performing Location Reference Range
All Performing Sites ​Negative
For more information visit:
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
Bloomer​ ​Monday through Friday ​​Less than 2 hours ​​Lateral Flow Membrane Immunoassay
​Cadott ​Monday through Friday ​​Less than 2 hours ​​Lateral Flow Membrane Immunoassay
​ClairemontMonday through Friday​Less than 2 hours​Lateral Flow Membrane Immunoassay
​Cornell ​Monday through Friday ​​Less than 2 hours ​​Lateral Flow Membrane Immunoassay
​Eagle River ​Monday through Friday ​​Less than 2 hours ​​Lateral Flow Membrane Immunoassay
Rhinelander​ ​Monday through Friday ​Less than 2 hours Lateral Flow Membrane Immunoassay ​​
​Stratford ​Monday through Friday ​​Less than 2 hours ​​Lateral Flow Membrane Immunoassay
​Wittenberg ​Monday through Friday ​​Less than 2 hours ​​Lateral Flow Membrane Immunoassay
For billing questions, see Contacts
For most current information refer to the Marshfield Laboratory online reference manual.