The Group B Streptococcus - GBS Test

"The weird thing about the pee thing is that it starts almost the moment you find out you're pregnant. That seems so weird to me because there clearly isn't a seven-pound baby pushing on your bladder at that time. Still, I woke up in those early months at 2 a.m., and then at 3 a.m., and then at 6 a.m. No rest for the weary. It was just pee, pee, pee."

Group B Strep Test

The Group B Strep Test is a relatively simple test that takes place in every pregnancy.  ‘Group B Strep’ is short for Group B Streptococcus, also referred to as ‘GBS’ if you want to go for even shorter terminology.  GBS is a type of bacteria that’s in the same family as the bacteria that causes ‘Strep throat’, but the presence of GBS during pregnancy poses risks to the health of your baby.  If a mother has GBS, there is a risk that the baby can become infected which can result in very serious complications for your baby such as pneumonia, sepsis [bacteria in the blood stream] or meningitis [swelling of the mining]. None of these are a good or healthy way to start life, so your doctor or midwife will pay close attention to this test.  GBS is the number one cause of life threatening newborn infection.

GBS bacteria live in the gastrointestinal system and are not uncommon.  In fact up to 40% of healthy women will test positive for GBS. 

To test for GBS, your doctor or midwife will use a swab in your vaginal and rectal areas, and send it to a lab for testing. There is nothing you will need to do in preparation for the test, and your doctor will get the results within a few days of sending it to the lab.

In many cases, a woman will have no symptoms, and even with all of the wonders of modern medicine, doctors still do not know the cause of GBS infections.  It is known, however, that GBS is NOT a sexually transmitted disease [STD], but if left untreated, GBS infections can result in uterine infections, bladder infections, and in severe cases, GBS infections can result in a stillborn birth.  Overall, if you are a woman that tests positive for GBS, the odds are still on your side.  Only 1 in 200 babies born to mothers who test positive for GBS will end up developing the disease.

Treatment for GBS infection involves antibiotics, but treatment does not occur until the time of delivery.  This is because GBS infection can recur even if detection and treatment has taken place earlier in pregnancy. GBS infection is not a permanent condition, and treatment usually results in a complete elimination of the bacteria.