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Bacterial infection (not an STI) Curable

Group B strep (GBS) testing

Group B strep (GBS) is a common bacterium that many healthy people carry without ever knowing it — and it is <strong>not</strong> a sexually transmitted infection. It matters most during pregnancy, when it can be passed to a baby during delivery and cause serious newborn illness. The good news: a simple swab late in pregnancy detects it, and antibiotics during labor dramatically reduce the risk to the baby. Here's what GBS is, how testing works, and why it's screened separately from STIs in pregnancy.

Type
Common bacterium
Not an STI
Curable
Yes
With antibiotics
Screening
Universal in pregnancy
Vaginal/rectal swab
Main concern
Newborn infection
During delivery

Where to get tested

Find group B strep (GBS) testing near you

Choose your test and enter your city — we'll take you straight to local group B strep (GBS) testing: nearby clinics and labs, prices, hours and county rates.

Test from home

At-home STD testing in the U.S.

if you'd rather skip the trip, an at-home kit ships to the U.S., you collect the sample privately, and mail it back to a CLIA-certified lab. Results come online in days, with a clinician available if anything is positive. Same labs as a clinic, no waiting room — and you can read how accurate at-home STD tests are before you order.

Want a free option first? The CDC-supported TakeMeHome program mails free at-home HIV self-test kits — and, in many areas, free STI kits — to your door, with no insurance or payment needed. The paid kits below add broader panels and faster turnaround.

  • Best range — couples & full panels

    myLAB Box

    $79 & up

    Screens for:
    Up to 14 infections — incl. HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis & herpes
    Sample:
    Self-collect: swab, urine, finger-prick
    Results:
    2–5 days, online
    • Free phone consult if positive
    • CLIA-certified labs
    • Couples & subscription options
    • Discreet packaging
    Order online myLAB Box review

  • Best for simplicity & support

    LetsGetChecked

    $89 & up

    Screens for:
    5–6 common STIs incl. chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, syphilis & trichomoniasis
    Sample:
    Finger-prick + urine/swab
    Results:
    2–5 days, online
    • 24/7 nurse support
    • Prescription for positives
    • CLIA-certified labs
    • Free shipping both ways
    Order online LetsGetChecked review

  • Best value — single tests

    Everlywell

    $49 & up

    Screens for:
    Chlamydia & gonorrhea, up to a 6-test panel adding HIV, syphilis, trichomoniasis & hep C
    Sample:
    Finger-prick + swab
    Results:
    Days, online
    • Telehealth visit if positive
    • CLIA-certified labs
    • HSA/FSA eligible
    • Subscription savings
    Order online Everlywell review

Every kit uses CLIA-certified labs. At-home testing is for screening; a reactive result should be confirmed and treated by a clinician. Prices and panels shown are illustrative and change often — confirm current details on the provider's site.

Understanding group B strep (GBS)

What is group B strep (GBS)?

Group B strep (GBS) is a type of bacterium — Group B Streptococcus — that many healthy people carry in their gastrointestinal and genital tracts. For most people, carrying GBS causes no symptoms and no harm at all. It is part of the normal range of bacteria the body lives with, and the majority of people who carry it never know it.

It is important to understand that GBS is not a sexually transmitted infection. It is not spread through sexual contact the way infections like chlamydia or gonorrhea are. GBS is included in pregnancy care discussions only to distinguish it from the STIs that are routinely screened during pregnancy — the two are tested for in different ways and for different reasons.

The reason GBS gets attention is its significance in pregnancy. A pregnant person who carries GBS can pass it to their baby during delivery. This is the main way newborns develop GBS disease, which — although uncommon — can be serious for the baby. Because of this, screening and prevention during pregnancy are the focus of GBS care.

Healthcare providers screen all pregnant people for GBS late in pregnancy using a vaginal/rectal swab. This screening is separate from STI screening and is a standard part of routine prenatal care. The goal is simply to know whether GBS is present so that protective steps can be taken at the time of delivery.

When detected, GBS is treatable. People who screen positive are given antibiotics during labor to protect the baby, which is a well-established and effective approach to reducing the risk of newborn GBS disease.

Screening guidance

Who should get tested for group B strep (GBS)?

Because group B strep (GBS) is usually silent, the CDC and U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommend routine screening for the groups most likely to have it — not just people with symptoms.

  1. 1

    All pregnant people

    Universal GBS screening is recommended during pregnancy. A vaginal/rectal swab is collected late in pregnancy as a standard part of prenatal care.

  2. 2

    People planning a pregnancy

    If you are planning to become pregnant, talk with your provider about prenatal care, which includes routine GBS screening later in the pregnancy.

  3. 3

    Anyone unsure whether GBS was checked

    If you are pregnant and unsure whether you've been screened for GBS, ask your healthcare provider — it is a routine, separate test from STI screening.

  4. 4

    People with a previous GBS-affected pregnancy

    If you've had a pregnancy involving GBS before, let your provider know so they can plan appropriate screening and delivery precautions.

Symptoms

What are the symptoms of group B strep (GBS)?

Most people who carry GBS have no symptoms at all. Carriage in the gastrointestinal and genital tracts is common and usually harmless, which is exactly why screening — rather than waiting for symptoms — is how GBS is identified in pregnancy. That's exactly why testing matters — you can have it, pass it on, and never feel a thing.

People who carry GBS

  • Typically no symptoms
  • GBS is often present without the person being aware of it
  • Carriage is detected through screening, not symptoms

Newborns (the main concern)

  • May develop GBS disease after exposure during delivery
  • Newborn GBS disease can be serious
  • Prevention through screening and antibiotics during labor is the focus of care

Because carrying GBS usually causes no symptoms, screening during pregnancy is essential — it identifies GBS so protective antibiotics can be given during labor.

Left untreated

Why group B strep (GBS) is worth catching early

Treated early, group B strep (GBS) clears with antibiotics and causes no lasting harm. Left untreated, it can climb into the reproductive tract and beyond:

Newborn GBS disease

When GBS passes from a pregnant person to their baby during delivery, the baby can develop GBS disease, which can be serious. This is the primary reason GBS is screened for during pregnancy.

U.S. data

How common is group B strep (GBS) in the U.S.?

Where you test and what it costs vary by location — see the by-location links below for group B strep (GBS) testing where you live. Source: CDC — About Group B Strep Disease.

How testing works

How a group B strep (GBS) test works

Group B strep (GBS) is detected with a nucleic-acid amplification test (NAAT) — the most accurate method — on a urine sample or a swab. You can do it at a lab, a clinic, or at home.

When to test

A vaginal/rectal swab performed late in pregnancy, as part of routine prenatal care.

After treatment

GBS screening is separate from STI screening and follows your provider's standard prenatal schedule.

Vaginal/rectal swab screening Standard screening
Sample
Vaginal and rectal swab
Results
Per your provider's lab

Performed late in pregnancy as part of routine prenatal care.

What it costs: Varies by provider; GBS screening is a routine part of prenatal care.. Typically covered as part of standard prenatal care — check with your provider and plan..

If your result is positive

How is group B strep (GBS) treated?

GBS is treated with antibiotics. For pregnancy, the focus is protecting the baby at the time of delivery.

Treat partners

GBS is not a sexually transmitted infection, so partner treatment is not part of GBS care.

In pregnancy

Antibiotics are given during labor to people who screen positive, which protects the baby from GBS disease.

Prevention

How to prevent group B strep (GBS)

  • Universal pregnancy screening

    Providers screen all pregnant people for GBS late in pregnancy with a vaginal/rectal swab so that GBS can be identified before delivery.

  • Antibiotics during labor

    Pregnant people who screen positive receive antibiotics during labor — the established way to protect the baby from GBS disease.

Why it matters

Why STD testing matters

Find group B strep (GBS) testing
  • GBS usually causes no symptoms, so screening is the only reliable way to know if it's present.
  • During pregnancy, GBS can pass to the baby at delivery and cause serious newborn disease.
  • Universal screening late in pregnancy identifies GBS before delivery.
  • Antibiotics during labor effectively protect the baby when a pregnant person screens positive.
  • GBS screening is separate from STI screening — both are part of comprehensive pregnancy care.

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Group B strep (GBS) testing by state & city

Jump to local group B strep (GBS) testing — clinics and labs, prices and county rates — in your state or a popular city, or explore another test.

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Living with group B strep (GBS)

Questions to ask your provider about group B strep (GBS)

Group B strep (GBS) is common, treatable, and nothing to be ashamed of — millions of Americans are diagnosed every year. The most useful next step after a positive result (or before a first test) is a direct conversation with a clinician. Here are the questions that matter most:

  • Is my group B strep (GBS) test result definitive, or do I need a confirmatory test?
  • What treatment options are available to me, and how long until I'm no longer contagious?
  • Should I notify my recent partners, and can your office help me do that confidentially?
  • How soon can I re-test to confirm the infection has cleared?
  • Are there other STIs I should test for at the same visit?
  • Can this affect my fertility, pregnancy, or long-term health if left untreated?

Good to Know

Group B strep (GBS) testing FAQs

Common questions about group B strep (GBS) and group B strep (GBS) testing, answered.

Is Group B strep a sexually transmitted infection?

No. GBS is not a sexually transmitted infection. It is a common bacterium that many healthy people carry in their gastrointestinal and genital tracts. It is mentioned alongside pregnancy STI screening only to distinguish it from the STIs that are screened during pregnancy.

Does carrying GBS cause symptoms?

Most of the time, no. Carrying GBS is usually harmless and causes no symptoms, which is why screening — rather than waiting for symptoms — is how it is identified during pregnancy.

Why does GBS matter during pregnancy?

GBS matters in pregnancy because a pregnant person can pass it to their baby during delivery. This is the main way newborns develop GBS disease, which can be serious. Screening and antibiotics during labor are used to protect the baby.

How is GBS tested for?

Healthcare providers screen all pregnant people for GBS using a vaginal/rectal swab late in pregnancy. This is a standard part of prenatal care and is separate from STI screening.

Is GBS treatable?

Yes. GBS is treated with antibiotics. Pregnant people who screen positive are given antibiotics during labor to protect the baby.

Who gets screened for GBS?

All pregnant people are screened for GBS as part of routine prenatal care. The screening is a vaginal/rectal swab performed late in pregnancy.

How is GBS spread to a baby?

Newborns most commonly develop GBS disease when GBS is passed from the pregnant person to the baby during delivery. GBS is not spread through sexual contact.

Is GBS screening the same as STI screening?

No. GBS screening is separate from STI screening. Providers screen all pregnant people for GBS with a vaginal/rectal swab late in pregnancy, which is distinct from the STI tests done during pregnancy.

Editorial standards

Medically reviewed · Updated

Reviewed by Dr. Mei Chen, MD, FACOG · OB-GYN

Obstetrician-gynecologist focused on reproductive and sexual health for women — pregnancy, BV, yeast, trichomoniasis and HPV/cervical screening.

1 Sources

Data & references

  1. CDC — About Group B Strep Disease https://www.cdc.gov/group-b-strep/about/index.html