Bacterial cultivation is the main technique used to diagnose the causative bacterium in cases of middle ear infection and sinusitis, but the test takes a long time. Recently, a rapid diagnostic technique has been developed that can diagnose Streptococcus pneumoniae in about 20 minutes with a liquid sample that has accumulated in the middle ear, discharge from the ear, or nasal discharge. The rapid diagnostic test for Streptococcus pneumoniae is also used to confirm the causative bacterium in cases of pneumonia using coughed-up sputum, a nasal cavity swab, or urine as samples.