NHA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)Clinical Patient CareEasy
A medical assistant is preparing to perform a rapid strep test using a throat swab. After collecting the specimen, which of the following steps should the medical assistant take next?
- AApply a bandage to the patient's throat
- BPlace the swab in the provided reagent solution
- CSend the swab immediately to the laboratory for culture
- DDiscard the swab in a biohazard waste container
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Place the swab in the provided reagent solution
After collecting a throat swab for a rapid strep test, the next step is to process the specimen according to the test kit's instructions, which typically involves placing the swab into a reagent solution to extract the antigens.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. A bandage is not needed for a throat swab.
- C. Rapid strep tests are performed in-house; cultures are sent to the lab but are a separate, subsequent test.
- D. Discarding the swab immediately would prevent testing.
Rapid Strep Test Procedure
A rapid strep test quickly detects Group A Streptococcus antigens from a throat swab, providing results within minutes.
- Collect throat swab carefully.
- Swab enters reagent for antigen extraction.
- Results available quickly, guiding immediate treatment.
Memory trick: Quick Throat Swab Extracts Strep