What type of culture is typically used to test for strep throat?

The typical culture used to test for strep throat is a bacterial culture. Strep throat is primarily caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes, so identifying this specific pathogen requires isolating and cultivating the bacteria from a throat swab or sample. A bacterial culture allows for the growth of any bacteria present, which can then be further analyzed to confirm the presence of streptococci, particularly Group A Streptococcus, which is the common cause of strep throat.

In contrast, serum cultures are used to check for bacteria in the bloodstream, fungal cultures are needed when there is a suspicion of a fungal infection, and protein cultures do not relate to the detection of pathogens like Streptococcus. The focus with strep throat is on identifying the specific bacterial organism responsible for the condition, making bacterial culture the appropriate choice for this scenario.