US Medical Term · tests
Throat Culture
Cultivo de garganta
Also: Cultivo faríngeo (regional variant)
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Throat Culture |
| Spanish (Español) | Cultivo de garganta |
| Chinese (中文) | 咽喉培養 |
| Korean (한국어) | 인후 배양 검사 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Cấy dịch họng |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Throat Culture |
| Portuguese (Português) | Cultura de garganta |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | การเพาะเชื้อจากลำคอ |
| Japanese (日本語) | 咽頭培養検査 |
What it means
A throat culture is a laboratory test that identifies bacteria or other organisms causing a throat infection. A healthcare provider asks you to open your mouth wide and uses a sterile cotton swab to wipe cells from the back of your throat and tonsils. The swab is sent to a lab where organisms are grown on culture plates over 24–48 hours. If group A Streptococcus (strep throat) or other bacteria grow, lab staff identify the organism and may test antibiotic sensitivity. A throat culture is the confirmatory test for strep throat when a rapid strep test is negative but symptoms remain suspicious. The swab may cause a brief gagging sensation but is not painful.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
How is a throat culture different from a rapid strep test?
¿En qué se diferencia el cultivo de garganta de la prueba rápida de estreptococo?
The swab for the throat culture made me gag — is that normal?
El hisopo del cultivo de garganta me hizo arcadas — ¿eso es normal?
My throat culture came back positive for strep — how long am I contagious once I start antibiotics?
Mi cultivo de garganta salió positivo para estreptococo — ¿cuánto tiempo soy contagioso una vez que empiezo los antibióticos?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026