How long to get gbs test results

Women who test positive for GBS are said to be colonized. A mother can pass GBS to her baby during delivery.

GBS affects about 1 in every 2, babies in the United States. Not every baby who is born to a mother who tests positive for GBS will become ill. Although GBS is rare in pregnant women, the outcome can be severe. As such, physicians include testing as a routine part of prenatal care. This screening is performed between the 35th and 37th week of pregnancy. Studies show that testing done within 5 weeks of delivery is the most accurate at predicting the GBS status at birth.

The test involves a swab of both the vagina and the rectum. The sample is then taken to a lab where a culture is analyzed for any presence of GBS. Test results are usually available within 24 to 48 hours. Group B strep is not a sexually transmitted disease STD.

For most women, there are no symptoms of carrying the GBS bacteria. If you test positive for GBS, this simply means you are a carrier. Approximately 1 out of every babies whose mothers carry GBS and are not treated with antibiotics will develop signs and symptoms of GBS. There are, however, symptoms that may indicate you are at a higher risk of delivering a baby with GBS. These symptoms include:. In this case, your physician will want to use antibiotics to protect your baby from contracting GBS during delivery.

According to the CDC, if you have tested positive and are not high risk, your chances of delivering a baby with GBS are:. If you test positive for GBS and meet the high-risk criteria, your physician will probably recommend giving you antibiotics through an IV during your delivery to prevent your baby from becoming ill. Taking antibiotics greatly decreases the chances of your baby developing early-onset group B strep infection. Overview A group B streptococcus test — also known as a group B strep test — checks to see if you are infected with the group B streptococcus bacteria.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references AskMayoExpert. Group B streptococcus GBS infection. Rochester, Minn. Puopolo KM, et al.

Group B streptococcal infection in pregnant women. Accessed Feb. Group B streptococcal infection in neonates and young infants. Frequently asked questions. Pregnancy FAQ Group B strep and pregnancy. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Even if they haven't had any symptoms of infection, pregnant women can pass the infection to their babies during labor and delivery.

When women with GBS are treated with antibiotics during labor, most of their babies do not have any problems. But some babies can become very sick from GBS. Premature babies are more likely to be infected with GBS than full-term babies because their bodies and immune systems are less developed. Pregnant women are routinely tested for GBS late in the pregnancy, usually between weeks 35 and The test is simple, inexpensive, and painless.

Called a culture, it involves using a large cotton swab to collect samples from the vagina and rectum. These samples are tested in a lab to check for GBS. The results are usually available in 1 to 3 days. GBS infection in babies is diagnosed by testing a sample of blood or spinal fluid.

But not all babies born to GBS-positive mothers need testing. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health. Strep B Test. What is a group B strep test? What is it used for? Why do I need a group B strep test? A baby may need a group B strep test if he or she has symptoms of infection. These include: High fever Trouble with feeding Trouble breathing Lack of energy hard to wake up. What happens during a group B strep test?

If you are pregnant, your health care provider may order a swab test or a urine test. Wash your hands. Clean your genital area with a cleansing pad given to you by your provider. To clean, open your labia and wipe from front to back. Start to urinate into the toilet. Move the collection container under your urine stream. Collect at least an ounce or two of urine into the container, which should have markings to indicate the amounts.

Finish urinating into the toilet. Return the sample container as instructed by your health care provider. If your baby needs testing, a provider may do a blood test or a spinal tap. During the procedure: A nurse or other health care provider will hold your baby in a curled-up position.

A health care provider will clean your baby's back and inject an anesthetic into the skin, so your baby won't feel pain during the procedure.