Strep B How and when to get tested?

[Boggler]

I'm currently 17wks and after having a friend who almost died with a pp strep B related infection and spent the first 6 weeks after the birth in hospital I want to make sure I get myself tested. My friend was lucky her baby was miraculously unaffected but it was touch and go if my friend was going to make it and I still can't believe that the NHS does not routinely test for strep B - it seems very short sighted to me. So my question is how to I get myself teste and when is the best time to get it done? I doubt asking my mw will be much help she's pretty useless other than for taking blood pressure etc

Boggler,

see the GBSS for lots of information.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

I was tested for this earlier this week...I went to my GP, a very lovely lady,explained my worried for the infection, and told her my partner has been having troubles with a undiagnosed re-occuring infection, which he has tried many creams for and the only thing that helped was amoxycillin, I said I was worried incase it was strep b and I'd contracted it. So I was swabbed for it and she sent it off for testing, I've not had to pay anything. Get tested between 35-37 weeks. I'm 35+3 :)