Prenatal Group B Streptococcus test using real-time polymerase chain reaction.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the percentage of pregnant women with negative Group B Streptococcus (GBS) screening results by culture at 35 weeks' gestation, who subsequently had positive GBS test results after 39 weeks' gestation.


METHODS
From 2006 to 2007, we recruited 150 pregnant women who received routine GBS culture screening at 35 weeks' gestation with negative results, and who had repeat cultures and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests for GBS after 39 weeks' gestation.


RESULTS
Two percent of pregnant women with GBS-negative results by culture screening at 35 weeks' gestation were GBS-positive at 39 weeks' gestation.


CONCLUSIONS
It is necessary to perform a GBS test 4 weeks after an initial negative GBS culture at 35-37 weeks of gestation. RT-PCR provides a simple and rapid alternative method for detecting rectovaginal GBS colonization at the time of labor.
Wei
Chi-Feng
CF
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cathay General Hospital, Si-Jhih, Taiwan.
She
Bo-Ching
BC
Liang
Hung-Shuo
HS
Ling
Qing-Dong
QD
Tsai
Chen-Yuan
CY
Yen
Chih-Wei
CW
Wu
Hsueh-Yin
HY
Tsai
Ming-Song
MS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008828:Microbiological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D055815:Young Adult
D004269:DNA, Bacterial