Medically reviewed to ensure accuracy.
Who should be tested for group B strep?
All pregnant women are routinely tested for GBS.
How is GBS treated?
When left untreated, about 1 in every 200 babies born to GBS-positive mothers is affected.
When antibiotics are administered, the odds go down to only 1 in 4,000.
When is the group B strep test done?
This test is now usually performed around36 weeks of pregnancy.
(Testing earlier doesn’t always predict who will be carrying GBS if women deliver after 40 weeks.)
Ask your practitioner if that’s an option at the facility where you’ll be delivering.
How is group B strep testing done?
The swabs will be sent to a lab for analysis.
GBS can also show up in a urine culture obtained during aprenatal checkup.
What is late-onset GBS?
Are there any risks of being tested for GBS during pregnancy?
There are no risks associated with having the group B strep test.
