Whats the difference between a throat swab and a throat culture

[mrigsby]

Can someone tell me what the difference between a throat swab and a throat culture for strep is. My son has always been given the throat swab. However, I have a friend who suggested that her pediatrician test her child for strep and he sent her to the hospital to have a throat culture done. He told her he wanted to see what grew out of it. Does anyone know what the purpose of this is? Just wondering out of all the times my son has had strep we have never had this done.

[memom]

A strep culture/quick strep reports only GABHS. A throat culture will report other bacteria as well including other strains of strep (many strep strains possible). I did a throat culture on my daughter and it reported 4+ Beta Hemolytic Strep Group C (she has has GABHS many times but I wanted to see what was growing on her pitted huge tonsils when her quick strep was negative).