Impact Story
2m Read
September 10, 2024
COMMUNITY AND GLOBAL HEALTH
Whitepaper
3m Read
October 17, 2025
COMMUNITY AND GLOBAL HEALTH
The Need
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) remains a leading cause of early-onset neonatal sepsis. Rates of maternal colonization have not changed, but universal antenatal screening at 35–37 weeks along with the use of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) has resulted in a decrease of early-onset disease.1
Challenges remain, including:
Challenges remain, including:
- The latest ACOG practice guidelines recommend universal antepartum screening along with intrapartum where indicated based on risk.
- GBS colonization can be transient 2 and identifying women colonized at the time of delivery can be challenging.
- Some women present at the delivery room with unknown GBS status.
1 ASM, March 2020, Guidelines for the Detection and Identification of Group B Streptococcus - Revised Guidelines from CDC, 2020.
2 ACOG Committee Opinion No. 797: Prevention of Group B Streptococcal Early-Onset Disease in Newborns. Obstet Gynecol. 2020 Feb;135(2):e51-e72.
2 ACOG Committee Opinion No. 797: Prevention of Group B Streptococcal Early-Onset Disease in Newborns. Obstet Gynecol. 2020 Feb;135(2):e51-e72.
The Solution
The Xpert® Xpress GBS test is intended to aid in the diagnosis of GBS colonization intrapartum to identify candidates for antibiotic prophylaxis. With results in less than an hour, the Xpert® Xpress GBS test delivers 93.5% sensitivity and 95.5% specificity.
On-demand molecular testing — an ideal solution:
On-demand molecular testing — an ideal solution:
- System designed with Early Assay Termination (EAT) which can reduce the test time for positive results to approximately 30 minutes*
- As soon as positive sample is confirmed, software concludes test and reports immediately
- Random access ensures any test on the menu can be run anytime, without the need to batch
* Otherwise, the full test runtime is approximately 42 minutes.
The Impact
- Identify GBS colonization status at the time of labor (intrapartum) in patients at term with unknown GBS status.
- Fast and easy‑to‑interpret results support identification of candidates for intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP).