Strepelle – Group Strep B Test Review

All About Group Strep B

Group Strep B was something I first heard discussed when I was pregnant with my first child and when I mentioned it to my midwife at the time, she told me it wasn’t really anything to worry about. But research has showed me since that that really isn’t true.

Strep B or Group Strep Streptoccus is the actually the leading cause of life-threatening infections in newborns. It’s a very common infection and up to 2 in 5 people carry the bacteria in their bodies. The risk in pregnancy is that this infection can be passed onto your child during childbirth. The majority of women carriers give birth without problems, but a small percentage do pass it into their child. I should state this is a small percentage, the NHS website lists this as a 1 in 1750 chance. But if it is passed on it and not treated promptly, it can be very serious.

In the UK women are not routinely tested for Strep B, but this is not the case in other countries. According to Group Strep Support Group the following countries offer testing to women during pregnancy: Australia, Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Dubai, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Slovenia, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, and the USA.  As you can see this is quite a substantial amount.

A Group Strep B positive test means that your doctor can prescribe the correct medication for your baby quickly in order to keep them safe. Which usually means antibiotics for you during labour. I’m actually due to have an elective caesarean  for medical reasons, but there is still a risk if I’m a carrier even if the baby is born this way.

The Strepelle Home Test

So what are your options if you would like to be tested for it? Enter Strepelle. Strepelle offer home Group Strep B tests. They send you a kit with clear instructions where you can test yourself at home and send the swabs off to Strepelle’s laboratory for testing.

The kit they send you includes a clear instruction guide along with two swabs and a freepost envelope in order for you to send your swabs back for testing. You have to take two swabs for the test, one vaginally and one rectally. Not totally pleasant if I’m honest with you, but over in a couple of minutes and they you simply seal them in the tubes provided. Complete an order form and post them back. The results can then either be posted, emailed or text back to you.

I sent off the test on a Friday morning and the results were text to me by 11.30 am on the Monday, so the service was super speedy too. I tested negative for Group Strep B, but it was really reassuring to know this when I just have a few weeks to go until I give birth. I’m due at the hospital tomorrow as this is something I will be sharing with my midwife.

The Strepelle test costs £39.99 and includes everything you need, including a freepost envelope to send everything off for testing.

*Disclosure: I was sent the above test for the purpose of this review, however, all opinions are my own.