Do I need a private Strep B test?

[Merryclaire]

I asked my midwife yesterday if they routinely test for Strep B - she said no, but that it should show up anyway in the urine samples etc if I did have it.

I’d not heard that before - does anyone know if I can be reassured by that, or should I pay for a private test?

I’m 34 weeks into first pregnancy.

Thanks

You can pay for a private test, I did for peace of mind! I think it needs to be a bit later to count though? Check when you book it.

I did private tests for both my pregnancies. This charity advises when and where to buy. gbss.org.uk

The problem with the tests is that you could test positive now yet not have it when it's time to give birth or vice versa - effectively potentially changing your birth plan and over medicating you and baby for no reason. It's best not knowing imo.

It would show in your urine but not the tests the midwife conducts with a dip stick - only if they've been sending the wee away for lab tests in the past?

I tested privately as they don’t routinely test and I knew I had it in my 1st pregnancy. It costs about £40 and has to be done after 36 weeks x

I disagree that its best not knowing. There is a great podcast episode by Dr. Aviva Romm where she discusses the need to know and why antibiotic treatment for it is necessary (and she is against the overuse of antibiotics). Testing should be done around 36 weeks.

Yes this, its transient, but it will be reported if the lab grew it from a urine culture or vaginal swab

It won’t show up in your urine unless the bacteria causes a UTI, which I think is fairly rare. Most of the time people carry it without knowing they have it.

The GBS support website linked above is a great resource and if I recall rightly it explains that a private test at 36-38 weeks is 98% accurate for your GBS status at birth, so I think worth doing. There are other risk factors for a GBS infection in the baby on the website so read up on those too.

Oh and to add my personal experience - yes it is transient - had it picked up in urine at 24 weeks, treated with antibiotics, private test at 38 weeks was negative as was swab in labour. I didn’t have the antibiotics in reliance on the private test.

Yes, test privately. Or insist that your midwife organises it... I just told mine that I knew it wasn't routine but I wanted her to do it anyway and she organised it.

I have strep B that didn't show up in my urine. It was found from a swab at triage. I would get private test just incase

My daughter nearly died from group b strep sepsis at birth and spent 2 weeks in NICU / SCBU. I didn't get the test because i was covid isolating at the time then went into early labour. Please please please get the test.

As group b strep is transient, it isn't perfect (ie you can test negative but still be positivd at birth) but if it is positive, you can make some informed decisions about your birth and labour (eg antibiotics vs increased monitoring etc).

The Group B Strep charity are supporting a huge research trial to see if testing should be introduced in the NHS as standard (as is the case in most other developed countries around the world).

To my mind, for £36 or whatever, it isn't worth the risk not testing.

Thanks for the advice! I’ll organise a private test over the next couple of weeks.