Preterm birth risk can be assessed by symptoms of labour such as contractions, and vaginal bleeding. However these biophysical markers are not as accurate in predicting preterm birth as fetal fibronectin, a biochemical marker that can often be detected before the biophysical markers.¹
Approved for collection between 22-35+6 weeks’ gestation ²
When a patient is experiencing symptoms of preterm labour, you want to be as confident as possible in your decision to admit her, observe her, or discharge her. For patients who have symptoms of preterm labour, the detection of fetal fibronectin concentrations can help you quickly determine the risk of delivery within 2 weeks.
Risk of delivery < 34 weeks in women with symptoms of preterm labour² ³
Generally, the risk of preterm birth is low in women with an fFN level below 200 ng/ml.
Approved for collection between 18-27+6 weeks’ gestation ²
For high-risk asymptomatic patients, the detection of fFN concentrations can help you construct an informed and timely management plan.
Risk of delivery <34 weeks in high-risk asymptomatic patients ⁴
Generally, the risk of preterm birth is low in women with an fFN level below 200 ng/ml.
The use of quantitative fetal fibronectin testing (Rapid fFN® Test) can help to reduce unnecessary admissions, shorten hospitalisations and help you direct care and resources to the patients who need it most.
Preterm labour can be associated with substantial anxiety for patients. Hospitals can use fFN testing to help truly distinguish between those who are at risk of preterm labour from those who are at very low risk. This allows you to achieve:
- – Timely and appropriate interventions
- – Hospitalisation of only those patients at greatest risk of preterm delivery
- – Effective transport of preterm labour patients to higher, more appropriate level of care
- – Cost-effectiveness for the NHS
- – Avoidance of unnecessary treatments, interventions, in-utero transfers and medications
- – Staff availability for cases with the greatest medical needs
- – Supporting manageable caseloads
References
- Goldenberg, RL, et al. The preterm prediction study: the value of new vs. standard risk factors in predicting early and all spontaneous preterm birth. NICHD MFMU Network. Am J Public Health 1998 Feb; 88(2): 233-8
- AW-29098-001_003 – 10Q Cassette Product Insert
- Abbott DS, Radford SK, Seed PT, et al. Evaluation of a quantitative fetal fibronectin test for spontaneous preterm birth in symptomatic women. Am J Obstet Gynaecol 2012;208
- Abbott DS, Hezelgrave NL, Seed PT, et al. Quantitative Fetal Fibronectin to Predict Preterm Birth in Asymptomatic Women at High Risk. Obstetrics & Gynecology 2015;125:1168-1176