Accurate strep testing plays a vital role in protecting children’s health. When diagnostic results are incorrect, patients may receive the wrong treatment. False negatives can allow infections to progress, increasing the risk of complications such as kidney inflammation and rheumatic fever. On the other hand, false positives lead to unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions, exposing children to side effects and contributing to antibiotic resistance. Precise testing ensures proper treatment from the very first visit.
The Limitations of Standard Rapid Strep Tests
Traditional rapid strep tests, though widely used, miss up to 30% of true Group A Streptococcus infections. When results are unclear, clinicians must order a backup throat culture to confirm the diagnosis. This creates delays, additional visits, and anxiety for families.
Delays With Throat Culture Results
Throat cultures typically require 24–48 hours to return results. During that waiting period, children may continue to experience pain, fever, and sore throat symptoms. Some parents choose to keep their child home from school to avoid spreading infection, further impacting daily life. Follow-up visits also increase clinical workload and healthcare costs.
Saliva sampling is paired with qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction) technology, which detects bacterial DNA at extremely low concentrations. Because saliva collects bacteria throughout the mouth, it provides a more comprehensive sample than a single throat swab. This leads to improved sensitivity during early infections — long before symptoms worsen — helping clinicians make confident decisions immediately at the point-of-care.
Preventing Antibiotic Overuse in Children
Accurate strep testing has another important benefit: reducing unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions. When antibiotics are given without true bacterial infection, children may experience avoidable side effects like rash, diarrhea, and medication intolerance. Repeated misuse also contributes to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which is a growing global health threat. Inappropriate pediatric prescriptions cost an estimated $21.3 million annually, demonstrating the widespread impact of misdiagnosis.
Accurate Strep Test
Why Accuracy Is Critical in Strep Testing
Accurate strep testing plays a vital role in protecting children’s health. When diagnostic results are incorrect, patients may receive the wrong treatment. False negatives can allow infections to progress, increasing the risk of complications such as kidney inflammation and rheumatic fever. On the other hand, false positives lead to unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions, exposing children to side effects and contributing to antibiotic resistance. Precise testing ensures proper treatment from the very first visit.
The Limitations of Standard Rapid Strep Tests
Traditional rapid strep tests, though widely used, miss up to 30% of true Group A Streptococcus infections. When results are unclear, clinicians must order a backup throat culture to confirm the diagnosis. This creates delays, additional visits, and anxiety for families.
Delays With Throat Culture Results
Throat cultures typically require 24–48 hours to return results. During that waiting period, children may continue to experience pain, fever, and sore throat symptoms. Some parents choose to keep their child home from school to avoid spreading infection, further impacting daily life. Follow-up visits also increase clinical workload and healthcare costs.
Why Parents Trust SalivIQ™
✅ 100% accuracy
✅ Non-invasive collection
✅ Rapid turnaround (same-visit results)
✅ No follow-up throat culture required
How Saliva-Based Diagnostics Improve Accuracy
Saliva sampling is paired with qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction) technology, which detects bacterial DNA at extremely low concentrations. Because saliva collects bacteria throughout the mouth, it provides a more comprehensive sample than a single throat swab. This leads to improved sensitivity during early infections — long before symptoms worsen — helping clinicians make confident decisions immediately at the point-of-care.
Preventing Antibiotic Overuse in Children
Accurate strep testing has another important benefit: reducing unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions. When antibiotics are given without true bacterial infection, children may experience avoidable side effects like rash, diarrhea, and medication intolerance. Repeated misuse also contributes to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which is a growing global health threat. Inappropriate pediatric prescriptions cost an estimated $21.3 million annually, demonstrating the widespread impact of misdiagnosis.
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