Home strep test could save time and money
Most children who visit a doctor because they have a sore throat are tested for Streptococcus (“strep throat”), a contagious condition that can cause serious complications if not treated. A new study led by MIT and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center researchers suggests that the time spent on these visits could be saved by having parents test their children at home. The study, performed at MIT Medical, shows that most parents who tried were able to successfully perform the test on their children. If this approach were implemented on a large scale, it could save time for parents, who would avoid a trip to the doctor’s office, and for doctors, who could devote their time to treating other conditions. It could also help patients get treatment more quickly. “The results supported our hypothesis, which is that parents can probably do this test at home, and with this added information, care could be...