What should be done if a rapid antigen test for Strep is negative?

When a rapid antigen test for Streptococcal infection returns negative, it is essential to consider the possibility of a false-negative result, especially if the clinical presentation strongly suggests strep throat. Therefore, performing a throat culture is the most appropriate next step. Throat cultures are more sensitive and can reliably confirm or rule out a Streptococcus infection.

While symptomatic treatment may be beneficial for managing discomfort and other symptoms, it does not address the underlying infection if one exists. Treating with antibiotics without confirming the presence of Streptococcus via a throat culture could lead to unnecessary antibiotic use, which has implications for antibiotic resistance and potential side effects. Retesting using another rapid method may not provide additional value if the initial rapid test was negative; thus, the recommended practice is to confirm with a throat culture for accuracy.