| The BioStar OIA STREP B test provides rapid detection of group B streptococcal
antigen directly from cervical or vaginal swabs from intrapartum maternity
patients. If culture results are unknown at the time of labor and delivery,
BioStar OIA STREP B offers midwives additional information for client
management decisions in addition to clinical observation.
About Streptococcus B
Group B streptococcus is the primary cause of life-threatening, neonatal
sepsis and meningitis in the United
States, accounting for approximately 8,000
cases of neonatal infections each year.
As many as 15% of these babies die. Others develop long-term
neurological problems requiring extensive care. The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) issued two Group B Streptococcus (GBS) Prevention
protocols in 1996.
One protocol uses only risk factors at the time of delivery to identify
mothers who could have a GBS baby. This protocol has an estimated prevention of
54%.
The second protocol uses prenatal screening cultures taken at 35 to 37 weeks
gestation (just before delivery). This protocol has an estimated prevention of
87%.
The CDC Group B Strep Prevention Recommendations have some
limitations:
- Up to 46% of GBS babies are
born to mothers with no risk factors
- Prenatal screening cultures
have variable sensitivity
- Culture results may not be
available in Labor & Delivery
The Solution: BioStar OIA STREP B
By testing mothers with the BioStar OIA STREP B assay when they present to
Labor & Delivery, the current CDC protocols can be enhanced up to 40%.
The BioStar OIA STREP B assay enhances current CDC GBS Prevention
Recommendations by:
- Identifying mothers at risk
for delivering a GBS baby.
- Allowing time for adequate
prevention measures, such as antibiotics during delivery, thus reducing
transmission of GBS from mother to infant
- Providing information
regarding GBS status for immediate infant management decisions
A simple, 21-minute rapid diagnostic test provides agar culture-level
sensitive results when and where needed most - in Labor and
Delivery. |
