Clin Biochem 2022 Apr 9. Epub 2022 Apr 9.
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Department of Clinical Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, United States. Electronic address:
Over-the-counter (OTC) and direct-to-consumer (DTC) tests have been gaining popularity due to their potential to provide accurate and quick diagnostic results without any test order from healthcare professionals, while providing patients the opportunity to actively engage in their own health management. Group A streptococcus is a common transmissible pathogen that leads to acute pharyngitis. Accurate and timely diagnosis of Group A streptococcus pharyngitis is critical to urge patients to seek professional healthcare, to support antibiotic stewardship, to reduce disease transmission, and to prevent rare but potentially life-threatening complications such as acute rheumatic fever, rheumatic heart disease, and poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis. Read More