Interpretation
| Result | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ≤0 | 1–2.5%: no test, no antibiotic |
| 1 | 5–10%: no test, no antibiotic |
| 2 | 11–17%: test |
| 3 | 28–35%: test |
| ≥4 | 51–53%: test or empiric treatment |
Formula
Fever >38 °C +1 · absence of cough +1 · tender anterior cervical nodes +1 · tonsillar swelling/exudate +1 · age 3–14 +1 · age 15–44 0 · age ≥45 −1
Clinical pearls
- IDSA advises against testing most adults with clear viral features (cough, rhinorrhea, hoarseness, oral ulcers) regardless of score.
- In children, a negative rapid antigen test should be confirmed by throat culture.
- The original Centor score (Centor 1981, adults) is the four clinical items without the age modifier.
Examples
centor 10 yo fever no cough tender nodes exudatemcisaac score for a 50 year old with fever only and a coughstrep throat score 30F fever, no cough, tonsillar exudate
FAQ
What Centor score needs antibiotics?
Antibiotics should be guided by a positive rapid strep test or culture; testing is recommended at a McIsaac score of 2 or more.
What is the difference between Centor and McIsaac?
McIsaac adds an age modifier (+1 for 3–14, −1 for ≥45) to the four Centor criteria and extends use to children.