[Re: Kelli Smith: https://www.hifa.org/dgroups-rss/spotlight-group-b-strep-20-what-every-p... ]
These are such important points for everyone to know and understand, Kelli. Some other points regarding testing negative that others might not be aware of are:
Using antibiotics and/or vaginal medications may cause false negative test results. Sharing a reference to an article on this topic: Ostroff RM, Steaffans JW. Effect of specimen storage, antibiotics, and feminine hygiene products on the detection of group B Streptococcus by culture and the STREP B OIA test <https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8565413/>. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 1995 Jul;22(3):253-9.
Also, that culture results are considered to be 95% to 98% accurate if done < 5 weeks before delivery, but after that the negative predictive value declines. Yancey MK, Schuchat A, Brown LK, Ventura VL, Markenson GR. The accuracy of late antenatal screening cultures in predicting genital group B streptococcal colonization at delivery. Obstet Gynecol 1996;88):811–5. Pregnant women who have tested negative should be aware that they can ask their healthcare providers about being tested again if they have not give birth within this window, and, of course, healthcare providers can initiate this conversation.
Best!
Marti
CHIFA profile: Marti Perhach is CEO/Cofounder of Group B Strep International, United States. Professional interests: Group B strep disease research and prevention, prenatal infection, One Health. Email address: marti.perhach AT gbs-intl.org