Since strep throat is a bacterial infection, the primary treatment options for strep throat are oral antibiotics, such as penicillin or amoxicillin, to eradicate the bacteria. In general, antibiotic treatment is not prescribed until a strep throat test comes back positive and only if the individual is still experiencing adverse symptoms of a strep throat infection. While the patient waits for their test results to come back, their doctor will likely recommend some at-home remedies to soothe the pain, such as drinking soothing liquids or gargling saltwater. Testing for strep throat is a quick and painless process involving a swab of the back of your throat with a cotton swab to obtain a respiratory sample. If the clinic uses a rapid strep test, results can return in as little as 20 minutes. Other strep tests are sent to a laboratory for analysis of the sample.