Strep and Mono Screen in Rochester, NY

Rapid Strep Test and Monospot Test for Kids

At Westside Pediatrics, we are able to test for various diseases on-site using our laboratory facilities. These tests help us to conclude accurate results regarding illnesses that may be affecting you or your children.  Once a diagnosis has been made, our board-certified pediatrician can then prescribe a course of treatment. If you suspect that your child may be experiencing symptoms of strep throat or mono, call 585-247-5400 to schedule an appointment at our pediatric office in Rochester, NY today!

Rapid Strep Test

One of the first tests performed if an individual shows any signs of having strep throat is called a rapid strep test. The purpose of this screening is to determine whether or not a bacteria called group A streptococcus is present.

As you may have guessed by its name, a rapid strep test only requires a few minutes to garner its results. This is particularly helpful because it allows your pediatrician to recommend an appropriate course of treatment right away instead of having to wait several days for the results to return from the lab.

Most cases of strep throat are solved using a prescribed antibiotic. Even if your rapid strep test comes back with negative results, you may still be prescribed medications by your pediatrician in order to treat your symptoms. A throat culture will likely be sent to a lab facility to await a more complex conclusion about your condition. It is not uncommon for a rapid strep test to give a negative result, and then have a throat culture give a positive result for the same patient with streptococcus.

If you begin to notice any of the following symptoms, please contact Westside Pediatrics as soon as possible to have one of our pediatricians examine your child for strep throat:

• Sore throat
• Difficulty swallowing
• Enlarged tonsils that may also have a red coloring to them
• White patches on your tongue or throat
• A fever
• Swelling of the lymph nodes located along both sides of the neck
• Loss of appetite
• Stomach pains, nausea, or vomiting
• A headache

Monospot Test

When a rapid strep test is performed, it is not uncommon for your physician to also complete a routine test for mononucleosis. This condition presents many of the same symptoms as strep throat, which is why testing is usually done for both at the same time.

One way to identify a case of mononucleosis is to check an individual’s antibodies. These antibodies help the body to respond to various diseases, including the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). This infection is often the cause of mononucleosis, which means that when the virus is present, the body will respond by producing more and more antibodies. A monospot test is able to detect whether or not there is an elevated number of antibodies present, which in turn leads to a positive or negative conclusion regarding the presence of mono.