Procedures in Throat Swab

 Explain the procedure to the patient, including that they may gag briefly.
 Wear gloves and eye protection, and if COVID-19 is under consideration, gown,
N95 respirator, and face shield.
 Position the patient and light source to illuminate the posterior oropharynx.
 Have the patient open the mouth and relax the tongue by saying "aaaah."
 Press the tongue down using a tongue depressor.
 Gently rub the swab against both tonsils and the posterior pharynx.
 Place the swab in the culture medium, transport medium, or sterile test tube.

Why is it important?

A throat swab culture, or throat culture, is a test commonly used to diagnose bacterial infections in
the throat. These infections can include strep throat, pneumonia, tonsillitis, whooping cough, and
meningitis.

The purpose of a throat swab culture is to detect the presence of organisms in the throat that could
cause infection. For example, the presence of group A streptococcus bacteria (Streptococcus
pyogenes) in your throat is a key sign that you may have strep throat.

Reference: Harkin, M. (2017, July 26). Throat swab culture: What you need to know. Retrieved
February 03, 2022, from https://www.healthline.com/health/throat-swab-culture