- Group B Streptococcus (GBS)
- TDs:
- Neisseria gonorrhoea (GC)
- Herpes simplex 1
- Herpes simplex 2
- Chlamydia trachomatis
- Trichomonas vaginalis
ONLY MultiGEN offers these comprehensive advantages:
- Cost-Effectiveness
- Verifiable Accuracy
- 'Gold Standard' Multiplex DNA Sequencing
- All 6 pathogens identified in ONE Test
Indications:
- 1st trimester screen for silent STDs (present in 25% of all pregnancies)
- 3rd trimester screening @ 35-37 weeks for:
- Group B Strep
- Prolonged rupture of membranes
- Typical STD symptoms/exposure risk
- Repeated STD screen
- Intra-partum fever
- Premature labor
References:
Includes:
- MD interpreted report
- Reflex testing of positive GC results for Quinolone resistance
- Same day reporting
Sample Collection: Vulvo-Vaginal swabs (collection kit supplied)
Ordering: Download a request form
Licensure: MultiGEN Diagnostics Inc. is a CLIA licensed laboratory
Facts:
- One in Four pregnant women has a silent STD
- 10-40 % of pregnant women are Group B Strep (GBS) carriers
Advantages to Physicians
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Present Testing
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MultiGEN Testing
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1. Testing strategy
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Multiple methods
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Single comprehensive method
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Organism driven testing
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Syndrome driven testing
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Potential for multiple visits to Physician
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Single visit to the Physician
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Potential for repeat testing
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'Getting it Right' the first time
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2. Sampe source
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Multiple - Blood and Swabs
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One Swab
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3. Turn around time
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Delayed: 3 - 7 days
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Quick: 1 day
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4. Results
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Presumptive ID
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Confirmatory ID and Genotyping
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Additional information
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None
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Source ID, genetic variations, dead or alive organisms
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Reports
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Multiple at different times
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All results sent together in a single report
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Format
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Non-verifiable
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Visually verifiable (Electropherogram)
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5. Organism Identification
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Subjective determination
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Objective with specific genetic sequence
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Group B streptococcus 'GBS' (Bacterium)
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Culture/ELISA
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DNA sequencing
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Herpes simplex 1 & 2 (Viruses)
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Serology
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DNA sequencing
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N. gonorrhoea (Bacterium)
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DNA Probe
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DNA sequencing
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Chlamydia trachomatis (Bacterium)
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DNA Probe
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DNA sequencing
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Trichomonas vaginalis (Protozoan)
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Microscopy
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DNA sequencing
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6. Transportation
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Some need to be alive (Trichomonas)
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Non-critical. Organisms can be tested if dead or alive
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7. Technology
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Accuracy
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Sub-optimal
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Highest possible
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Errors not verifiable
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Errors detected routinely
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Potential for false positives
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Zero false positives (Electrophergram)
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Cost
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More than $300
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$175
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Advantages to Patients
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Present Testing
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MultiGEN Testing
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1. Recovery
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Can be delayed or slower
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Faster
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High hospital costs due to missed diagnoses
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Reduced hospital cost
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Increased social cost
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Reduced social cost
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2. Cost savings
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No
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Quicker, accurate diagnosis and treatment = SAVING$
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Questions and Answers
How common are STDs in pregnancy?
Official statistics show that STDs in pregnancy are very common in the US, and most are silent:
- Herpes 2 880,000 /year
- Chlamydia 100,000 /year
- Trichomonas 124,000 /year ("Tric")
- Gonorrhoea 13,000 /year
This amounts to over one million cases per year. As there are about 4 million deliveries in the US per year, this means that STDs are a silent threat in more than one quarter (25%) of all US pregnancies.
How common is GBS in pregnancy?
Group B Strep colonization of the vagina in pregnancy is about as common as STDs (10-40% of all pregnancies), but is not itself an STD. Women who are positive for GBS are simply carriers of this common bacterium.
Why are these infections important to diagnose in pregnancy?
The majority of these infections have no symptoms, and the mother is totally unaware of having any problem. They can only be identified by testing, but if left untreated they can produce serious and sometimes fatal complications in both mother and child.
What treatments are available if these infections are diagnosed?
Most of these infections (Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Trichomonas and GBS) can be cured by carefully chosen antibiotics. Herpes infections can be minimized with certain anti-viral medications, and Caesarian Section may be recommended as the safest way to deliver the baby.
When should testing be done?
Twice. The first vaginal sample should be taken soon after pregnancy is confirmed to identify and treat any silent STDs before they can harm the developing baby and mother. The second test should be done at 35-37 weeks of pregnancy to see if GBS is present, and also to confirm no new STD.
How is MultiGEN testing different from other types of testing for these conditions.
Only MultiGEN technology uses the 'Gold Standard' method of DNA sequencing to produce results, and because multiple organisms are tested for simultaneously, the cost is significantly less than other sub-optimal methods which require a number of different tests to identify all 6 causes. Only MultiGEN can test for all 6 organisms in the same test.