Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is found on the skin of many adults and does not usually cause disease. However, when passed to infants at birth, GBS can cause severe disease that can be fatal. This makes it a leading cause of infections in newborns. Fortunately, antibiotic treatment during delivery can protect the baby, and now ViroStat has released a new rabbit monoclonal antibody specific to GBS
The antibody reacts with the GBS Lancefield carbohydrate antigen found on the surface of the bacterium. The antigen can be released from specimens by extraction and detected via immunoassay methods. This new antibody reacts with all GBS strains tested but does not react with other Streptococcus groups. It joins ViroStat’s existing rabbit monoclonal antibody to group A Streptococcus (GAS) as tools for rapid detection.
Data sheets on these new antibodies are available on the ViroStat website.