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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Anyone going to test for Group B Strep?

13 replies

Guntie · 19/03/2013 10:51

Hi ladies,

I was wondering if any of you were planning on having a group b strep test done privately?

I friend of mine had group b strep and her little girl went on to contract meningitis. Knowing this I think I would like to have a test for group b strep done.

I have been reading up about it and the test is not routine on the NHS and the test that the NHS does carry out has a 50% false negative rate and is not regarded as the most accurate way to test if the mother has group b strep. From what I have read a more reliable method is called the enrichment culture method (ECM) test, but this is only available privately.

Has anyone had the ECM done? Where and how? I read that you can buy test kits online for £35 but I am not sure if they are trustworthy?

It would be great if anyone would be happy to share their experiences!

Many thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
Guntie · 19/03/2013 15:47

Bump..? (Excuse the pun..)

OP posts:
marzipananimal · 19/03/2013 16:02

I found out I had it in late pregnancy, but not on purpose, I had a swab taken because I had some weird cramping.
It meant that I had IV antibiotics in labour, labour had to be sped up with the drip as my waters had broken, and I ended up needing pethidine and an epidural.
Given that the risks are so small, I would personally rather not know if I'm carrying it this time, so as to avoid the intervention. But that's something you'll have to decide for yourself.
There's a website called gbs support or something where you can find out more

rcs19 · 19/03/2013 16:02

I did the test privately with both my dd's. thankfully, it came back negative each time. I think it's done routinely in many countries and I wanted the peace of mind.

The test kit is free from a couple of online companies. You get 2 swabs and instructions for where to poke them. You send the £35 to the lab with the swabs and they text the results a few days later. They also write a letter to your midwife.

I can't remember the statistics but many babies die each year from GBS and it's so easily prevented. If you're found to be carrying it, you just have IV antibiotics during labour and your baby should be safe.

Original poster
Guntie · 19/03/2013 17:42

thanks!
rcs19 do you recall the company you used?

OP posts:
NoTeaForMe · 19/03/2013 18:30

I will be. I had GBS in my last pregnancy, had all the antibiotics and was induced. None of it was how I planned and was by no means ideal...but it's a silly reason to not have the test. I could never forgive myself if I had it and passed it in to my baby just to save myself from having antibiotics, induction of labour.

marzipananimal · 19/03/2013 19:57

Gee thanks Hmm
Clearly the NHS don't see the risk as significant enough to be worth routinely testing for so that's good enough for me, though I can understand that some people might feel differently

NoTeaForMe · 19/03/2013 20:03

The gbss website is good for information. They are campaigning that the NHS do start doing routine tests for it. Like a previous poster said many countries already do. After knowing I had it once and it's something that goes away and comes back all the time I wouldn't risk not having the test, personally.

LovelyChubbly · 25/03/2013 13:25

There's some information on the different tests done by the NHS and privately on the GBSS website which I think are useful here.

There's also a list of which NHS hospitals do the sensitive test and, if you're not lucky enough to be at one of those, then where you can get them privately here. Hope that helps

Original poster
Guntie · 25/03/2013 17:46

Thank you! I have decided I am going to get the test done privately. Hopefully comes back all clear!

OP posts:
SilveryMoon · 25/03/2013 17:53

I was tested for it when I was pregnant with ds2. I did not know they were testing for that, but I received a letter in the post one day saying I had tested positive for GBS.
I know someone very close to me who suffered the very worst outcome of this infection and i was petrified.
I demanded to be induced so that the labour and delivery could be 100% controlled from the start.

I think if you are worried, get the test and if you have read that private is more reliable than NHS, get the private test done.

festive · 25/03/2013 21:18

I did a private test in my last pregnancy and was positive. My labour was so long I had 2 or 3 lots of iv antibiotics in labour. Despite all this, and due to spending so long in the birth canal, my ds got a strep b infection (suspected meningitis) and was treated in SCBU for 2 weeks following his birth. The only reason his infection was picked up so early at just a few hrs old was due to the fact I'd done the test and they knew I was strep b pos. I dread to think what might have happened if we'd been sent home as normal. I am 33 wks pg with dc2 and this time the consultant said they would not even bother swabbing me as I will be treated as if I am pos, as they are not taking any risks.

ananikifo · 25/03/2013 21:27

I will now!

LovelyChubbly · 26/03/2013 15:22

I found this petition on the Government's website, wanting routine testing for GBS every pregnancy - see what you think:

epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/43712

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