The Centor criteria are a widely used and accepted clinical decision tool for identifying patients with GAS.
- Cough is absent.
- Exudates are present on the tonsils.
- Nodes are tender in the anterior cervical region.
- Temperature of 100.4 F by history (i.e. fever by history).
- oldness – age is included in the Modified Centor criteria, which is useful for kids. Age 3-14 gets a +1.
- reassure patient and give symptomatic treatment if 0 to 2 and do a Rapid Antigen Detection Test if patient scores 3 or more. Treat
Applying the CENTOR criteria
| Points | Treatment |
| -1, 0, or 1 | No testing or treatment. |
| 2 | Test and treat if pt has a positive rapid strep test. |
| 3 | Test and treat if positive. Consider empiric treatment. |
| 4 | Test and treat if positive. Consider empiric treatment. |