GBS is the most common cause of life-threatening infection in newborn babies in the UK.
Most developed countries offer all pregnant women a GBS test late in pregnancy and then offer antibiotics in labour when the test result is positive, and have seen significant drops in the rates of GBS infection in newborn babies. In the UK, since 2003 we have used a risk-based approach to identify which newborn babies are most likely to develop GBS infection. If a risk factor arises, the mother is offered antibiotics in labour to reduce the risk of the newborn baby developing the infection. Our rate has risen.
GBS3 is a huge clinical trial of routine testing pregnant women for group B Strep (GBS) in the UK. It is designed to establish whether testing all pregnant women is better than the UK’s current approach, and which of two testing approaches is better.
- 71 hospitals are taking part and have been randomised
- 35 hospitals are testing pregnant women and pregnant people for GBS (either offering the ECM test at 35-37 weeks of pregnancy or a rapid PCR test in labour)
- 36 hospitals are continuing with standard risk-based care
Recruitment of pregnant women and people to the GBS3 Trial will end on 31 March 2024.
The findings of this trial are expected to be reported in 2025.
We at GBSS have been closely involved right from the start of this trial, and look forward to its results informing future GBS prevention policy in the UK.
Is my hospital taking part in GBS3?
Below are the 71 hospitals that have confirmed they are participating in the GBS3 trial:
- Ashford and St Peters NHS Foundation Trust
- Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
- Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital
- Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Bolton NHS Foundation Trust
- Bradford and Airedale Hospitals
- Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust
- Cardiff & Vale University Health Board
- Chelsea & Westminster Hospital
- Chesterfield Royal Hospital
- Countess of Chester NHS Trust
- County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
- Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals
- East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust
- East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
- Epsom & St Helier University Hospitals
- Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust
- Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust
- Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Hywel Dda University Health Board
- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
- Ipswich Hospital
- Kettering General Hospital
- King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
- Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust
- London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust
- Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
- Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
- Medway NHS Foundation Trust
- Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
- Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust
- Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Newham Hospital
- North Manchester General Hospital
- North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Trust
- North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust
- Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
- Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
- Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust
- Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
- Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital
- Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
- Royal London Hospital
- Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust
- St Helen’s & Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
- Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- South Tyneside And Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
- South Warwickshire Foundation NHS Trust
- Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust
- St George’s University Hospitals
- Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
- Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
- University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
- University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire
- University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
- University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
- University Hospitals Sussex
- Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- West Middlesex University Hospital
- West Suffolk NHS Foundation
- Whipps Cross University Hospital
- Whittington Health NHS Trust
- Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
To view a map of sites provided by the GBS3 Trial team, click here.
For more information
There’s more information on the GBS3 Trial website here and on the NIHR website here.
We will be sending supporters updates about the GBS3 Trial – sign up here – or get in touch with us at info@gbss.org.uk if you need any information.
