Strep, Mono & Flu Testing

It can be difficult to know when to seek medical attention if you’re feeling under the weather and even more difficult to get an appointment to see your doctor when you finally decide that you should. Reliant Urgent Care can help you determine whether what you’re feeling is treatable with antibiotics. Start feeling better today and get your strep, mono, or flu test in Los Angeles.
Testing for the Flu
Influenza, or the flu, is a highly contagious virus that can cause symptoms for a week or more. Those symptoms often include fever and chills, a sore throat, body aches, and general malaise. The fatigue is usually what spurs patients to get testing done for the flu, as it is often bad enough that one’s day-to-day life is affected.
A rapid flu test in Los Angeles will be able to detect whether what you’re experiencing is coming from the influenza virus. Flu tests will also identify the type of flu if the virus is present.
To get tested for the flu, a swab is taken from the nose or the mouth. Time and rest will allow your body to recover from the flu, as there are no antibiotics to treat it. Over-the-counter pain relievers can be used for aches and pains. Severe cases may require antiviral drugs, something you can discuss with your healthcare provider. Those same healthcare providers will have flu vaccines on hand throughout flu season, which peaks in the winter and spring months.
An annual flu shot could prevent you from getting the flu next time around. Schedule your flu vaccine below.

Testing for Strep
Streptococcus, or strep, is a bacterial infection that is highly contagious. Getting you on the path to feeling better requires a series of antibiotics.
A strep throat test in Los Angeles is the only way to know whether that severe sore throat you’re feeling is strep. A rapid strep test can detect whether you have strep throat within minutes. The test involves a swab of your throat and tonsils, the two areas most affected by strep.
Left untreated, strep can cause serious complications down the line. On top of difficulty swallowing and a high fever that often comes with strep, strep can cause kidney inflammation and cardiovascular damage. Most with strep make a full, speedy recovery after a week on antibiotics. Proper treatment also cuts down the length of time you are contagious with strep.
Typically, you are no longer considered contagious after 24 hours on the antibiotic you’ll be given.

Testing for Mono
Mononucleosis, or mono, is a viral infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). While it’s most often seen in children and teenagers, anyone can get mono, as it is contagious.
Mono blood testing in Los Angeles is used to test for antibodies that would show a previous mono-infection. Doctors can also look at your blood counts to look for markers that would indicate active infection.
Unfortunately, mono can last for weeks. Fever, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes and tonsils can all be treated following a mono diagnosis, but many patients report fatigue and headaches well after most other symptoms disappear. A swollen spleen is another classic symptom of mono. Treatment for mono is focused on rest and allowing your body to heal with plenty of fluids. There are no antibiotics available to treat the infection, so you’ll need to allow mono to run its course.
An accurate diagnosis is still important to rule out infections that may be treatable with a round of medication. Some patients get other illnesses on top of mono, such as strep or tonsillitis.

Strep, Mono, and Flu Testing FAQs
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Is it strep or a sore throat?
Strep throat feels like a severe sore throat but usually also comes with a high fever and pain when swallowing. If your sore throat comes with cold symptoms like a stuffy nose, cough, or sinus pain, it’s likely not strep throat. A strep test can rule it out for you, though, if your symptoms vary.
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Is it a cold or the flu?
The symptoms for a cold or flu can be similar, but flu symptoms will be more severe. Your fever will be higher, and your fatigue greater. The flu will also often hit more suddenly. Scheduling a virtual visit with an urgent care provider like Reliant can help you decide whether you should come in for a visit in person.
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How do I know whether I need to test for strep, mono, or the flu?
If you’re having trouble breathing or swallowing and have a rapidly rising temperature, seek medical attention immediately. A doctor’s diagnosis will help set you up for the most efficient treatment.
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Should I get tested for COVID-19?
Urgent care that offers testing for these common conditions will likely also have COVID-19 screenings available. If you’ve been exposed to the virus, seek out a testing site immediately. If you’re having symptoms that have you worried, you may have the virus. Schedule rapid testing so that you have the answers quickly.
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Where can I get a flu test in Los Angeles?
An urgent care facility like Reliant can get you tested for a variety of common conditions. We’ll set you up with the appropriate treatment to get you feeling better as fast as possible. You don’t want to delay and allow your symptoms to get worse.
Urgent Care Insurance Networks
We are in-network and accept the following Insurances and IPA members.





