Screening for Group B Strep Bacteria

Why get screened

Screening women during pregnancy is one of the best ways to prevent GBS disease in the newborn's first week of life.

The results help healthcare providers know who's at increased risk for having a baby who could get GBS disease. Healthcare providers can then take steps to decrease this risk.

When to get screened

Get screened for GBS bacteria during the 36^th or 37^th week of each pregnancy according to the

• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
• American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM)

GBS bacteria screening should happen even when a cesarean birth is planned.

Why this timing matters

GBS bacteria come and go naturally in people's bodies. People may test positive for the bacteria at some times and not others. That's why women get tested late in their pregnancy, close to the time of delivery.

Testing methods

The test is simple and doesn't hurt. Healthcare providers rub a sterile swab ("Q-tip") on the vagina and rectum to collect a sample. They send the sample to a laboratory for testing.

Testing results

Women who test positive for GBS bacteria aren't sick. However, they're at increased risk for passing the bacteria to their babies during birth.

Healthcare providers give women who test positive antibiotics during labor to help protect their newborns from getting sick.