Screening and characterization of probiotic strains is crucial for achieving expected health benefits. In the current study, seventeen lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and probiotic strains were screened for survival in simulated gastric juice (pH 3 and 2) and bile (0.5% or 2.0%) for 3 and 12h, and antibiotic tolerance pattern using Etest® and Kirby Bauer Disc diffusion method. All tested strains exhibited survival during simulated gastric transit at pH 3 for 3 h. Lactobacillus reuteri, L. rhamnosus G5435, L. acidophilus 388, L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus 11842, Streptococcus thermophilus 1342, Bifidobacterium lactis BB12 and S. thermophilus M5 were found intrinsically tolerant to gastric and small intestinal transit and most tolerant strains among tested LAB (% survival ≥ 55). All strains were susceptible to ampicillin and erythromycin. Vancomycin and streptomycin tolerances were most common among species whereas tolerances for gentamicin, clindamycin and tetracycline were rare. The tolerances could provide additional benefit to strains in colonizing and replenishing gut microbiota after antibiotic therapy. The results obtained in the study confirm that strain viability in gastric and bile solution and antibiotic susceptibility are important attributes in the selection of potentially probiotic bacteria.