Written question asked by Mark Todd (Labour) on Thursday, 15 December 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 19 December 2005. It was answered by Liam Byrne (Labour) on Tuesday, 17 January 2006 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Group B Streptococcus Screening

Question: (2) what guidance is given on when a patient should be advised that Group B streptococcus has been detected in a test.

Answer: It is for clinicians, in partnership with their patients, to decide on when and how to advise patients of test results. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' guideline number 36, ““Prevention of Early Onset Neonatal Group B Streptococcal Disease”” and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's clinical guideline, ““Antenatal Care: Routine care for the healthy pregnant women”” give guidance based on research evidence.The NHS Health Technology Programme has commissioned a study of different approaches to the management of Group B Streptococcus in pregnancy. A review of the international evidence forms part of this work.

Secondary information