Rapid Detection of Group B Streptococci in High-Risk Patients

The efficacy of a new rapid (30-minute) latex agglutination test for group B streptococci (GBS) was compared with culture results using cervical, placental, and gastric aspirate specimens from 220 highrisk pregnant women and their infants. The overall colonization rate was 19.1%. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for any colonization in all specimens combined were 88.0%, 96.6%, 86.0%, and 97.2%, respectively, and were 97.4%, 96.4%, 86.0%, and 99.4%, respectively, for heavy colonization. This latex test is easy to perform and provides a rapid, cost-effective, and reliable method for detection of heavy GBS colonization in high-risk patients.