Implementation of Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests for GBS Screening

This technical report discusses the implementation of Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAATs) for Group B Streptococcus (GBS) screening in pregnant patients by PathAdvantage®, a clinical laboratory in Dallas, TX. The laboratory evaluated various testing methods and ultimately selected the Hologic Panther Fusion® GBS Assay due to its rapid turnaround times and high sensitivity compared to traditional culture-based tests and other NAATs. The report outlines the precision and accuracy studies conducted, which demonstrated that the Panther Fusion® GBS assay achieved 100% precision and 98.9% correlation with prior testing methods. The report also highlights the critical health concern posed by GBS in pregnant patients, noting that it is present in approximately 25% of this population and can lead to severe infections in newborns if not detected timely. The laboratory's choice was influenced by the assay's efficiency, ease of use, and reliability, aligning with their commitment to providing quick results for improved patient care.