Strepelle is the most accurate Group B Strep test kit currently on the market.
It is designed specifically to detect Group B Streptococcus (Group B Strep, GBS). Being highly sensitive, Strepelle utilises the gold standard method of testing. The Enrichment Culture Method (ECM). Research has shown that when the ECM test is performed within 5 weeks of delivery it gives a high prediction of whether GBS will be present at delivery.
Group B Strep (GBS) is a leading cause of early- onset neonatal infection in the UK, resulting in sepsis, pneumonia and meningitis. Early onset Group B Strep (EOGBS) currently affects 1 in 1750 babies and 1 in 400 if the mother is carrying Group B Strep. EOGBS can be life threatening and unfortunately there is no way to tell which baby will be affected. Carrying GBS is asymptomatic so there are no symptoms associated with GBS.
Testing is the only way to identify whether you are carrying GBS. If GBS is detected during your pregnancy steps can be taken to minimise the risk of your newborn developing a GBS infection.
Unfortunately, routine screening for GBS is not currently available on the NHS. Many other countries such as Australia, Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Dubai, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Slovenia, Switzerland, Taiwan and the USA do routinely screen for GBS and have seen a significant reduction in GBS infections.
Health services in the UK rely upon a ‘risk factor’ approach to determine which newborns are more likely to be at-risk of developing early-onset GBS infection. The approach looks at factors such as a high temperature during labour, labour starting preterm or waters breaking early, a previous baby contracting a GBS infection, and if GBS has been detected in this or previous pregnancies. Intravenous antibiotics given in labour to women carrying GBS have been proven to markedly reduce the risk of the newborn developing early onset GBS infection. This ‘risk factor’ system could be significantly improved upon as the rate of GBS infections in babies is not going down.
Strepelle can help change this. Strepelle is an easy to use home to laboratory test for use from 35 weeks of pregnancy. Although GBS carriage can come and go, this typically happens over periods of months, not hours or days. The Strepelle test for GBS carriage is highly predictive of whether you will be carrying GBS for the next 5 weeks which, when testing at 35-37 weeks, is when you are most likely to go into labour.