Throat Swabs may be needed to look for infections 

Follow the procedure as below

• Explain the procedure to the patient and the attendees
• Wash hands with antibacterial soap and water or use the bactericidal hand solution
• Make sure that no antibacterial solution has been used before taking the swab
• In younger children, you can make them sit on the parent’s lap to calm them. The carer can hold the hands down of the child with one of their hands and use the other to stabilize the forehead
• Ask the child to open the mouth and swab the area, usually the tonsillar fossa where there is maximum exudate.
• Avoid touching other areas.
• Use separate swabs to swab different areas
• Place the specimens in an appropriate container with the details of the patients and the type of specimen and send it to the lab
• Make sure you document it in the notes