VIASURE Streptococcus B Real Time PCR Detection Kit is designed for the specific identification of Streptococcus B in vaginal rectal swabs samples from patients with signs and symptoms of Streptococcus B infection.

This test is intended to be used as an aid in the diagnosis of Streptococcus B infection in combination with clinical and epidemiological risk factors.

DNA is extracted from specimens, multiplied using Real Time amplification and detected using specific primers and a fluorescent reporter dye probe for Streptococcus B.

Streptococcus agalactiae, or group B Streptococcus (GBS), is a normal part of women’s vaginal and gastrointestinal tract flora (commensal organisms); however, it can give rise to life-threatening infections in some vulnerable hosts including infants, pregnant women and nonpregnant adults with chronic diseases (such as underlying diseases like diabetes and cancer). Moreover, GBS is the main cause of invasive bacterial disease in infants.

There are ten known serotypes of GBS: Ia, Ib, and II-IX, which have distinct capsular polysaccharide structure, an important virulence factor causing human diseases. Several studies have observed a very different distribution of serotypes and phylogenetic lineages between invasive neonatal disease and maternal genital colonization, although they are closely related. Overall, serotype III causes approximately half of the invasive GBS disease, followed by serotypes Ia, Ib, II and V.

Traditionally, guidelines indicated culture as the gold standard method for GBS detection, but currently they are beginning to implement other techniques such as Real Time PCR. This technique is more sensitive and specific, and less-time consuming than culture, therefore they can be avoided intrapartum antibiotics prophylaxis that can give rise to resistance problems. In fact, the CDC recommends antenatal screening of vaginal/rectal samples for Streptococcus agalactiae at 35-37 weeks’ gestation, with intra-partum antibiotic prophylaxis only for positive cases.