Results take about 2 to 5 days, because it takes a while for germs to grow in a lab.
But if your doctor thinks you might have strep, he’ll do a quick strep test during your visit. It will show results right away. If it shows you have strep, he’ll give you an antibiotic that fights a wide range of germs.
If the strep test is negative but your throat culture comes back positive for strep or another infection, your doctor’s office will contact you and change your medication if they need to.