CLIA-Waived Group a Streptococcal Pharyngitis Test and Treat Programs in Community Pharmacies.

This article focuses on the use of Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA)-waived point-of-care tests (POCTs) for diagnosing group A streptococcus (GAS) in community pharmacy test and treat programs for acute pharyngitis in the United States. Acute pharyngitis is primarily viral, with GAS responsible for 5%–30% of cases, yet antibiotics are often overprescribed. Studies reviewed demonstrate that pharmacist-led testing using CLIA-waived POCTs can reduce unnecessary antibiotic use, improve patient access to care—especially for those without primary care providers or outside regular hours—and support antimicrobial stewardship. The article also details the characteristics of 13 FDA-approved CLIA-waived GAS POCTs and discusses considerations for implementing pharmacy-based test and treat services, highlighting their potential to enhance healthcare delivery and create new revenue streams amid shrinking medication dispensing margins.