Group b strep

[Tealeaf321]

Been researching about this and mil has mentioned the test isnt availablr on nhs but is around £30 but wasn't sure how I'd go about getting tested.
Have Googled and seen some home tests but not really sure if I trust myself to do such a test or results from a company off the Internet.
Is it possible to go to my normal gp or midwife and ask to be tested and pay the fee? I guess they won't be able to 'accept' money if they work for NHS? Have read stories of women asking at gp or midwife but been refused due to low risk- not a chance I want to take tbh.
Or do I just rock up at a private hospital or medical centre?
Does anyone know?

I would also like to know the answer to this - sorry I am of no help OP!

I think you can pay to have it done privately through your GP if they offer it - I know some round our way do 'Private Testing'. I am going to ask my midwife next time I see her as well.

I'd also like to know the best place to get a strep b test

I went on and on about it during 1st pregnancy as it was a worry for me. I have it maternal and paternal sides of family (i know its not hereditary) but a relative is blind and brain damaged from bacterial meningitis so i know what it can do. I got it done but by the time the results came back as positive, id had my son at 34 weeks the week before. Consultant did it for me at 28 weeks this time x

Thee is lots of good info on gbss.org.uk/info-support/pregnancy-and-birth/information-on-testing-for-group-b-strep/ecm-test-where-how/
The decision whether to test and when needs to be thought through based on your particular circumstances. If you are going to do it the ECM test is the best available test, but the swabs to need to be done and handled correctly. It is something I offer as an independent midwife, as a home visit, so worth checking private/independent midwives in your area. If you are in London you can do to The Doctors Laboratory and have the swabs taken by one of their staff. PM me if you want to ask something specific about your own situation.

I know i have strep b and that was found out on a routine swab test for thrush and because it came up they had to tell me i had it.
So i'm guessing a dr can do it, even if it's a charge as i just had that swab done at the drs.

I test positive for Group B strep back in 2013 when I had a swap prior to a coil being fitted.

With my first pregnancy in 2016/17, I told my midwife and she said they don’t test on the NHS. But pointed me in the direction of a company called Strepelle who offer home testing kits. I used them & they were great. Advised to test about 36 weeks. Results came back negative. Strep B comes & goes of its own accord. You don’t always have it. I had a normal birth, all was well.

This pregnancy, I’ve told my midwife again & because I’ve tested positive in the past, the NHS will now screen me!

The home tests are easy - it’s literally a swap in your vagina & one up your bum. It’s a tad uncomfortable but almost impossible to get wrong!

@bol87 That's very interesting, i was told by my midwife they won't test me again as i've already told her i have it and they will just give me antibiotics during labour. Is this what you had?

I was also never aware it comes and goes either. Thanks for the info

No, I didn’t have antibiotics in labour last time as the test came back negative. The research suggests that test results are likely to be reliable for the following 5 weeks post test, hence having one around 36/37 weeks. To be honest, I wanted an epidural in labour so chose a labour ward and would have happily accepted antibiotics as I was bed bound anyway. But if you were hoping for a more water based or less medical based birth, it’s worth pushing to be tested as you may not need antibiotics.

This is a fab website full of info & also attached a bit about it coming & going.

gbss.org.uk/info-support/we-are-here-to-help/faqs/

If you do get tested, they recommend the double test. A swap in the vagina & bum, not just vagina.. oh the joys of pregnancy 😆

@Bol87 that's great thank you so much for the information!
i will mention testing at my next midwife appointment.

Haha definitely not a pretty side of pregnancy!

Thanks again :)

Just FYI I did the test a couple of years ago, it was a home test and super easy to do. Came back positive so must have been reliable.

Beware though, it's a Pandora box! My labour was too fast to get the antibiotics in on time, and I had to stay 24h, post birth (I was grateful for their help but it felt so unnecessary). I'm hoping this time I get negative (the NHS will now retest me at 36 weeks)

Best of luck with everything