title: Prenatal Group B Streptococcus test using real-time polymerase chain reaction.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cathay General Hospital, Si-Jhih, Taiwan.
authors: Chi-Feng
authors: CF
authors: Wei
authors: Bo-Ching
authors: BC
authors: She
authors: Hung-Shuo
authors: HS
authors: Liang
authors: Qing-Dong
authors: QD
authors: Ling
authors: Chen-Yuan
authors: CY
authors: Tsai
authors: Chih-Wei
authors: CW
authors: Yen
authors: Hsueh-Yin
authors: HY
authors: Wu
authors: Ming-Song
authors: MS
authors: Tsai
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial