Comparison of Culture and Rapid Enzyme Immunoassay for the Detection of Group B Streptococcus inHigh‐Risk Pregnancies

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Equate Strep B® test for clinical use in patients at high risk for complications from group B streptococcus (GBS) disease. Methods: Vaginoperineal swabs were obtained from patients with preterm premature rupture of the membranes and/or preterm...

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Published in:Infectious diseases in obstetrics and gynecology 1994-01, Vol.2 (3), p.115-119
Main Authors: Dinsmoor, Mara J., Dalton, Harry P., Peng, Thomas C. C., Christmas, James T., Sayahtaheri-Altaie, Sousan, Harvey, Kevin, VanDorsten, J. Peter
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Equate Strep B® test for clinical use in patients at high risk for complications from group B streptococcus (GBS) disease. Methods: Vaginoperineal swabs were obtained from patients with preterm premature rupture of the membranes and/or preterm labor and semiquantitative GBS cultures and Equate® assay were performed. Results: From May 14, 1990, to April 30, 1992, 650 patients were enrolled; 626 had both culture and Equate® results available, of whom 24% were colonized with GBS. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the rapid assay were 28%, 84%, 35%, and 79%, respectively. Although the prevalence of GBS was higher in patients with ruptured membranes compared with those with intact membranes, rupture of membranes did not affect test sensitivity or specificity. Conclusions: We conclude that the Equate® rapid assay is not a sensitive method of GBS detection in high‐risk patients.
ISSN:1064-7449
DOI:10.1155/S1064744994000499