NHA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)Clinical Patient CareMedium
A medical assistant is preparing to perform a rapid strep test using a throat swab. After collecting the specimen, which of the following steps is crucial for accurate test results?
- APlace the swab directly into a transport tube.
- BAdd reagent drops to the swab and mix thoroughly.
- CStore the swab at room temperature for several hours.
- DApply a topical anesthetic to the patient's throat.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Add reagent drops to the swab and mix thoroughly.
After collecting the throat swab for a rapid strep test, it is crucial to immediately add the specified reagent drops to the swab and mix thoroughly according to the manufacturer's instructions. This step extracts the antigens necessary for the test reaction.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Placing the swab directly into a transport tube is for culture, not for rapid strep testing which requires immediate reagent mixing.
- C. Storing the swab at room temperature for several hours without reagent can degrade the sample and lead to inaccurate results.
- D. Applying anesthetic is for patient comfort during collection, not for accurate test results after collection.
Rapid Strep Test Procedure
A quick diagnostic test performed in the clinic to detect the presence of Group A Streptococcus bacteria from a throat swab.
- Throat swab collection.
- Immediate antigen extraction with reagents.
- Read results within specific timeframe.
- Follow manufacturer instructions closely.
Memory trick: Rapid Strep: Swab, Reagent, Read!