New home test kit for Group B Streptococcus Available to Buy
A new home test kit for Group B Streptococcus (Group B Strep or GBS) is now available to buy and use.
Strep B can be a serious infection for newborn babies. It is contracted in the birth canal and can lead to illnesses including meningitis, septicaemia or pneumonia. In turn, these can cause life long disabilities and one in ten babies with the infection will die.
Despite being a genuine risk for pregnant women, there is no routine testing offered on the NHS.
The new test Strepelle allows women to find out themselves if they are at risk of passing the infection to a baby. This means they can be given antibiotics during labour to protect the newborn.
Strepelle is suitable for use from 35 weeks of pregnancy. It can be purchased online for £39.99 and contains everything needed to complete the test and receive results.