The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice / American Board of Family Practice
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J Am Board Fam Pract · Jul 2002
Accuracy of rapid strep testing in patients who have had recent streptococcal pharyngitis.
Some clinicians have questioned the accuracy of rapid diagnosis of group A streptococcal pharyngitis by commercial immunochemical antigen test kits in the setting of recent streptococcal pharyngitis, believing that the false-positive rate was increased because of presumed antigen persistence. ⋯ The findings of this study indicate that the rapid strep test is both sensitive and specific in the setting of recent group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis, and its use might allow earlier treatment in this subgroup of patients.