OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Equate Strep B(R) test for clinical use in patients at high risk for complications from group B streptococcus (GBS) disease. METHODS: Vaginoperineal swabs were obtained from patients with preterm premature rupture of the membranes and/or preterm labor and semiquantitative GBS cultures and Equate(R) assay were performed. RESULTS: From May 14, 1990, to April 30, 1992, 650 patients were enrolled; 626 had both culture and Equate(R) results available, of whom 24% were colonized with GBS. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the rapid assay were 28%, 84%, 35%, and 79%, respectively. Although the prevalence of GBS was higher in patients with ruptured membranes compared with those with intact membranes, rupture of membranes did not affect test sensitivity or specificity. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the Equate(R) rapid assay is not a sensitive method of GBS detection in high-risk patients.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Equate Strep B(R) test for clinical use in patients at high risk for complications from group B streptococcus (GBS) disease. METHODS: Vaginoperineal swabs were obtained from patients with preterm premature rupture of the membranes and/or preterm labor and semiquantitative GBS cultures and Equate(R) assay were performed. RESULTS: From May 14, 1990, to April 30, 1992, 650 patients were enrolled; 626 had both culture and Equate(R) results available, of whom 24% were colonized with GBS. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the rapid assay were 28%, 84%, 35%, and 79%, respectively. Although the prevalence of GBS was higher in patients with ruptured membranes compared with those with intact membranes, rupture of membranes did not affect test sensitivity or specificity. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the Equate(R) rapid assay is not a sensitive method of GBS detection in high-risk patients.