1500 Forest Glen Road
Silver Spring, MD
20910-1484
HC
HOLY CROSS HOSPITAL
Phone: (301)754-7000
www.holycrosshealth.org
Memo
TO:
All Holy Cross Hospital Affiliated Physicians - Obstetrics
All Nursing Staff - Labor and Delivery Department
FROM:
Pablo Gutman, MD
Medical Director, Microbiology Laborat
DATE:
July 26, 2012
SUBJECT:
Group B Streptococcus PCR
Effective August 1, 2012, the Microbiology laboratory will implement a real-time
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the intrapartum detection of Group B
Streptococcus colonization for pregnant patients presenting in labor with no history of
prenatal care.
The test parameters are as follows:
TEST ORDER:
SPECIMEN
COLLECTION
TEST
PERFORMED:
RESULTS
REPORTED:
RESULTS:
Group B Strep PCR
1. This test (Rapid GBS) requires a special collection swab obtainable
from the laboratory. DO NOT USE THE ROUTINE CULTURETTE
SWAB FOR THIS SPECIMEN COLLECTION.
AND
2. Submit a routine GBS (LIM Broth) culture with this specimen
collection for antimicrobial susceptibility testing if needed for a
penicillin allergic patient with a positive PCR result.
1. Once per day; Sunday - Saturday Day Shift
2. specimens submitted after the daily test run will be stored and
run on the next day shift
1. upon completion of testing
2. Positive result = Critical value
1. Positive: GBS target nucleic acid is detected. Presumptive for GBS
colonization.
2. Negative: GBS target nucleic acid is NOT detected. Presumed not
colonized for GBS.
3. invalid: Presence or absence of GBS cannot be determined.
Quality Control Monitors did not meet acceptance criteria with
repeat testing. Repeat testing with an alternate method is
recommended.
Holy C r o s s . E x p e r t s in M e d i c i n e , S p e c i a l i s t s in C a r i n g .
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IK
1500 Forest Glen Road
Silver Spring, MD
20910-1484
HOLY CROSS HOSPITAL
IMPORTANT
NOTES:
Phone: (301) 754-7000
www.holycrosshealth.org
1. A positive test result does not indicate the presence of viable
organisms.
2. A positive result does not preclude the presence of other
pathogens.
3. This assay does not provide antimicrobial susceptibility results.
Culture isolates are needed to provide antimicrobial susceptibility
testing as recommended for penicillin allergic patients.
4. This assay should be used as an adjunct to other available
methods, it should not be used to replace antepartum (35 - 37
weeks gestation) testing.
Group B streptococcus and streptococcal infection.
6. Test results may be affected by concurrent antibiotic therapy.
Therapeutic success or failure cannot be assessed using this test
because PIMA may persist after antimicrobial therapy.
Thank you for allowing us to help you serve your patients. Please contact the laboratory
director, Jay Marchwinski (301-754-7321), the Microbiology laboratory manager, Sheryl
stuckey (301-754-7325) or myself if you have any questions or concerns regarding our
laboratory's practices or service to your patients.
References:
1. Garcia, Lynne. (Editor): Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook, 3rd Edition, Section
12, American society for Microbiology, Washington, DC, 2010.
2. Product insert, x p e r r GBS, Revision D, Cepheid, Sunnyvale, California, September 2011.
cc:
S. Mitchell, MD
B. Eig, MD
A. Burke, MD
M. Cameron, MD
J. Marchwinski
M. Mohyla, RN, CIC
Holy C r o s s . E x p e r t s in M e d i c i n e , S p e c i a l i s t s in C a r i n g .
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