Strep throat guide

Strep throat treatment online in Virginia and West Virginia

This guide is for a positive home rapid strep test with compatible symptoms. This visit never prescribes antibiotics for a sore throat without a positive test, and it is not for drooling, trouble swallowing, a muffled voice, or breathing difficulty.

Start online

Start a $59 online review for Strep throat (home test).

If you have a sore throat, fever, and no significant cough, a home rapid strep test can confirm whether it's strep throat. This visit treats strep throat only when you can show a clear photo of a positive test result. We never guess or prescribe antibiotics for a sore throat without a positive test, since most sore throats are viral and don't need antibiotics.

If treatment is appropriate, your physician can send a non-controlled prescription to your pharmacy and provide portal instructions for the next step.

Start this visit See response times

Quick facts

You must be physically located in Virginia or West Virginia at the time of request.
Starts at $59
No insurance needed
No app download
Physician review around the clock
Non-controlled prescriptions can be sent to your pharmacy when appropriate
A work or school note can be included when medically appropriate
Response times apply 24/7, every day

Common symptoms

Sore throat, often with pain swallowing
Fever
Swollen or tender neck glands
White patches or pus on the tonsils, with little or no cough

May fit online care

Adults & children 4+ (with a parent or legal guardian)
A photo of a positive home rapid strep test
Sore throat and fever, with no significant cough
No drooling, muffled voice, or severe one-sided throat swelling
Able to swallow liquids and breathe normally

Look for another care setting

No home strep test, or a negative test
Drooling, jaw tightness, or a muffled 'hot potato' voice
Severe swelling on one side of your throat, or difficulty breathing
A stiff neck, or being unable to swallow liquids
Symptoms for more than 5 days without a positive test

What to have ready

A clear photo of your positive home rapid strep test
Your symptoms and how long you've had them
Any antibiotic allergies, especially to penicillin
How many times you've had strep throat in the past year

What happens next

Standard

$59

Within 6 hours

Priority

$99

Within 3 hours

Rush

$149

Within 1 hour

Start the request on the website, answer a few questions to check that this visit fits you, and choose how fast you want an answer (the response window). If your concern still fits this service, a physician reviews it and sends you a secure update after you sign in. When appropriate, non-controlled prescriptions can be sent to your pharmacy, and a basic work or school note can be included at physician discretion.

Your physician

Every visit is personally reviewed by Ankur Fadia, MD. He is board-certified, has extra training in heart care (a cardiology fellowship), and is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, a medical honor society. He is licensed in Virginia and West Virginia, and your care is never handed off to someone else.

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Why do I need a positive test? Can't you just treat my sore throat?

Most sore throats are caused by viruses and don't need or benefit from antibiotics. Treating without a test risks giving antibiotics when they won't help, which contributes to antibiotic resistance and side effects for no benefit. A positive rapid strep test confirms the bacterial cause that antibiotics actually treat.

Where can I get a home strep test?

Home rapid strep tests are sold over the counter at most pharmacies for about $10. You can also get tested for free or at low cost at an urgent care clinic, retail clinic, or your local health department.

Why does finishing the whole antibiotic course matter so much?

Even after you feel better, stopping strep antibiotics early raises the risk of rare but serious complications, including rheumatic fever, which can damage the heart. Finishing the full course, even if it's the full 10 days, is important.

Other conditions we treat

Not quite what you have? Here are other conditions we treat.

Acute bronchitis Rebound congestion COVID-19 antiviral Flu (influenza) antiviral Hoarse voice & laryngitis Mono (infectious mononucleosis)