Anyone paid for a GBS test privately?

[HonorMatopoeia]

I had GBS during my 1st pg and had antibiotics during labour etc, all was well. I'd just presumed that once you had it, it was always there, but now I know it can come and go. Still presumed they'd test me for it during this pg but apparently not. I've been told I can pay for a private test (only £32) but the leaflet says this is a postal service! My mind boggles - do I have to wee in a tube and send it off?!Anyone done this?

Wilke that is so
You only have to look at the amountof GBS threads on here to see it is not as rare as all that.

what pissed me off is i was told that we aren't even told about private options because it would be seen as discriminatory against those who can't afford the £32 fee

nonsensical, as i was given a list of private clinics offering the nuchal fold scan by my mw (my local health authority doesn't offer one)

(i only found out about gbs through an antenatal yoga class)

It's definitely an area that needs more work so to speak. Discriminatory my foot!

I found out about private screening through googling it after the death of sis SIL's baby. Was NEVER mentioned to me by MW.

MrsRecycle - well done you! I found this so reassuring in my last pg and will def do it again this time. Can someone remind me how many weeks is best to do it, was it 37 weeks?

It is starting to annoy me how many things that can and do save babies lives are not done routinely! I know it is a cost issue for the NHS, good of the many vs good of the few etc but still. And to not tell people about it because some people can't afford it is ludicrous! Anyone that cannot afford £32 would not be having a baby or would be being massively helped out with costs! To be fair, my hospital last time (2004) had a leaflet about GBS and told you how to get the private test.

Thanks everyone - I could write a book about the reasons for the NHS not introducing it routinely. I met the then minister for Health at the Houses of Parliament and he said that they had compared neonatal death rates in the UK with that of the US, where it is routinely offered and they were very similar. When we asked if this was neonatal death rates from GBS he said, no - just the rates for everything. So he wasn't even comparing like with like. He also mentioned something about women might die frin anaphalatic shock after being given antibiotics yet these are the same ones you get prescribed from your GP or even the ones treating the current hospital acquired infections. And surely, you'd know if you were allergice to penicillan before you had your baby.

If you really do care and want things to change, then you must vote David Cameron as he is the MP leading our cause. I've met him and he is really clued up on GBS and is trying to get the law changed for routine testing. I'm sorry but the health of babies over-rides any political views that I might have.

MrsRecycle - could we not start up a petition/campaign??

I'd rather not. Isn't there aomething else we could do that doesn't depend on a particular politician taking it up as a cause?

There are hundreds of them (ok probably not that much!!) that have been presented to No10 but to no avail. Check out the gbss website for the current one. EDMs as well to Parliament (the first one was one of the most signed up to from MPs).

What we really need is a famous figure who has experienced GBS and the awful consequences of this easily preventable infection.

is it still Doctors Laboratory you get the test kits from?

Yes