Tuberculosis (TB) Test
Tuberculosis (TB/PPD) test in Houston, TX. For work and school, in Spanish, with affordable pricing.
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A bad sore throat can come from a virus or from strep bacteria, and only strep is treated with antibiotics. At Clínica Hispana Cruz we do the rapid strep test with a swab and the result is ready in minutes, during the same visit, so treatment is decided with real information instead of guesswork.
How do you tell strep throat from a cold?
Strep throat usually starts suddenly, with sharp pain when swallowing, fever, swollen glands in the neck and sometimes tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth or white patches on the tonsils. In children it can come with a stomachache or vomiting. A cough, stuffy nose and scratchy voice tilt the odds toward a virus instead.
Because the symptoms overlap so much, the test is the clearest way to know, especially in school-age kids.
How is the sample taken?
- The patient opens wide and sticks out their tongue.
- A long swab gently brushes the back of the throat and the tonsils.
- The swab is over in seconds; a brief gag reflex is common, but there's no real pain.
- The sample is processed at the clinic and the medical team shares the result within minutes.
What happens if the test is positive?
- The medical team prescribes the right antibiotic for age and weight
- The antibiotic and any other medicines prescribed during the visit are handed to you at the clinic, with no extra stop on the way home
- You learn how to finish the full course even if the pain eases quickly
- You find out when it's okay to go back to school or work without spreading it
- If it's negative, you get care tips for a likely virus and the warning signs to watch
When is it an emergency?
If there is trouble breathing, drooling because saliva can't be swallowed, inability to open the mouth, or a muffled "hot potato" voice, call 911 or go to the ER. For the rapid test itself, just stop by Airline Drive any day before 9 PM; if it's for your child, bring their approximate weight and a list of any medicines you've already given.
Included in this service
Rapid strep test
Same-day result
Treatment if positive
Walk-in care in Spanish
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, bringing the fever down doesn't change the swab result. Just note what you gave, how much and when, so the medical team knows. What you should avoid is starting leftover antibiotics from another illness before the test.
Because most sore throats are caused by viruses, and antibiotics do nothing against them; they only bring side effects and help bacteria become resistant. The medical team tells you what eases the pain and when to come back if you get worse.
Yes, although it's more common in children and teens. Adults who live or work with kids catch it easily. The rapid test is the same at any age, and the result is also ready within minutes.
