Anyone experiencing the following symptoms should consider this test: pain when swallowing, sore throat, red/swollen tonsils, swollen lymph nodes, fever, headache, nausea or vomiting.

All of these symptoms could be signs of Strep A infection.

No. This is a professional-grade at-home test kit. Everything you need is contained in a single pack.

You can expect highly accurate results in minutes, no lab confirmation required.

This is a highly accurate test. Analytical specificity refers to how well a test can detect certain organisms. This test’s analytical specificity is 99%, meaning a very low chance of false positive results.

Although this test is incredibly reliable, you must seek your GP’s advice upon receiving a positive result. In doing so, they’ll verify the result and work out an appropriate treatment plan for you.

Although a sore throat is commonly associated with cold or flu, it’s a symptom that’s shared with a Strep A infection. Having a cold or flu is not related to Strep A, and vice versa.

Strep A is a bacterial infection that specifically targets the throat, whereas a cold or flu is a viral infection affecting your entire respiratory system. While both can cause you throat pain, they’re not linked.

Left untreated, a Strep A infection can have serious consequences for your overall health and well-being. It can lead to the more serious conditions of rheumatic fever, kidney inflammation, or even heart damage.

Abscesses, ear infections and sinus infections are also potential knock-on effects of untreated Strep A. Avoid taking the risk by doing a simple at-home test as soon as symptoms arise.

If you carry out the test correctly, following the instructions exactly, a line will appear next to the ‘C’ marker on your test cassette.

The ‘T’ marker on your test cassette refers to the ‘Test’ line. If a line appears here, it means you’re likely positive for Strep A. Consult your GP immediately.

The test cassette contains gold-conjugated antibodies for the detection of Strep A. Using the swap sample you provide, these antibodies react with any Strep A antigens that may be present in your sample.

If the Strep A antigens are detected, this will show as a positive result on your test cassette. With this knowledge, you can then approach your doctor for further investigation and treatment.

If the ‘C’ (control) or ‘T’ (test) lines on your test cassette appear faint or have a different colour intensity to each other, don’t worry. The colour and intensity of the bands are irrelevant in this test.

The lines just need to be full and unbroken. Even if the ‘T’ line is weak, you’ve still got a positive result.

If you’re still experiencing symptoms associated with Strep A, but you’ve tested negative, you can’t definitively rule out Strep A infection.

There’s always the slight chance of a false negative result, so seek medical guidance as soon as possible.

Regardless of whether you have Strep A, your symptoms are serious enough to require further investigation. Never ignore throat pain, speak to your GP.

First of all, try not to panic. A positive result means the test has detected the presence of Strep A in your sample. The test can’t distinguish between dead and alive bacteria, so you likely had Strep A or still do.

You must seek medical advice as soon as possible. Your doctor will perform another test to verify your result. Then, they’ll arrange suitable treatment, which will likely involve a course of antibiotics.

The good news is: you’ve caught it early. Now, you can focus on a speedy recovery.