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Mother & Baby

Group B Streptococcus Testing

GBS is a bacterium that can be carried by women in the rectum or vagina. There are usually no symptoms or harmful effects for a carrier, until she is pregnant, when there may a significant risk of infecting her new born baby, which can be fatal.

Why test for Group B Streptococcus (GBS)?

Without preventative medicine, around 700 babies born in the UK each year develop a GBS infection, making it the most common cause of life threatening infection for new born babies. Most GBS infection in new born babies can be prevented by giving mothers who are at higher risk, intravenous antibiotics from the onset of labour until the baby is born. If the mother is a carrier and is not treated during delivery, the risk of her baby developing a GBS infection is 1 in 300, if treated during labour this is reduced to less than 1 in 6000.

How to test for Group B Streptococcus (GBS)?

3fivetwo Healthcare, based in Belfast, offer GBS testing with TDL laboratories who use an Enriched Culture Medium (ECM) specifically designed to isolate GBS in swabs. Pregnant women should be tested for GBS between 35 and 37 weeks gestation, which allows enough time to get results and is also close enough to the delivery date to minimise the risk of GBS infection during labour. The cost of this test is £65.00 and can be carried out at our clinic on the Lisburn Road. Home tests also available.

For further information, to arrange an appointment, or request a home testing pack, please do not hesitate to contact us.