Fetal fibronectin: Difference between revisions
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It is an excellent biological marker of premature (preterm) delivery; a delivery before 37 weeks of [[gestation]]. |
It is an excellent biological marker of premature (preterm) delivery; a delivery before 37 weeks of [[gestation]]. |
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When the fFN test is considered positive, |
When the fFN test is considered positive, it is a less conclusive result. It can indicate that a woman will go into preterm labor soon or she may not go into labor for weeks. When the fFN test is negative, the result is a better predictor. It means that there is little if any danger of [[preterm labour]] for 7-10 days and can be repeated weekly for women who have a high risk of preterm delivery to gauge if they will definitely NOT deliver this week or if it's a possibility. The test is easily performed. A specimen is collected from the patient using a [[vaginal swab]]. The swab is placed in a transport tube and sent to the lab for testing. The lab can easily produce a test result in less than one hour. |
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A [[systematic review]] of the [[medical literature]] found that fetal fibronectin is a good predictor of spontaneous preterm birth before [[cervical dilation]].<ref>Honest H, Bachmann LM, Gupta JK, Kleijnen J, Khan KS. Accuracy of cervicovaginal fetal fibronectin test in predicting risk of spontaneous preterm birth: systematic review. BMJ. 2002 Aug 10;325(7359):301. PMID 12169504. [http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/reprint/325/7359/301.pdf Free Full Text].</ref> The test may be run on patients between 22 and 35 weeks gestation. |
A [[systematic review]] of the [[medical literature]] found that fetal fibronectin is a good predictor of spontaneous preterm birth before [[cervical dilation]].<ref>Honest H, Bachmann LM, Gupta JK, Kleijnen J, Khan KS. Accuracy of cervicovaginal fetal fibronectin test in predicting risk of spontaneous preterm birth: systematic review. BMJ. 2002 Aug 10;325(7359):301. PMID 12169504. [http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/reprint/325/7359/301.pdf Free Full Text].</ref> The test may be run on patients between 22 and 35 weeks gestation. |
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Revision as of 22:38, 17 April 2009
Fetal fibronectin (fFN) is a protein produced by fetal cells and a type of fibronectin. fFN is found at the interface of the chorion and the decidua (between the fetal sack and the uterine lining).
It can be thought of as an adhesive or "biological glue" that binds the fetal sack to the uterine lining.
Diagnosic test
Fetal fibronectin "leaks" into the vagina if a preterm delivery is likely to occur and can be measured in a diagnostic test.[1]
It is an excellent biological marker of premature (preterm) delivery; a delivery before 37 weeks of gestation.
When the fFN test is considered positive, it is a less conclusive result. It can indicate that a woman will go into preterm labor soon or she may not go into labor for weeks. When the fFN test is negative, the result is a better predictor. It means that there is little if any danger of preterm labour for 7-10 days and can be repeated weekly for women who have a high risk of preterm delivery to gauge if they will definitely NOT deliver this week or if it's a possibility. The test is easily performed. A specimen is collected from the patient using a vaginal swab. The swab is placed in a transport tube and sent to the lab for testing. The lab can easily produce a test result in less than one hour.
A systematic review of the medical literature found that fetal fibronectin is a good predictor of spontaneous preterm birth before cervical dilation.[2] The test may be run on patients between 22 and 35 weeks gestation.
A negative fetal fibronectin test gives a more than 95% likelihood of remaining undelivered for the next 2 weeks. On the other hand, a positive fetal fibronectin test indicates a higher risk of preterm delivery (61% of delivery before 34 weeks)[3]. So, the fetal fibronectin test can't tell you for sure that you are in labor, but it can tell you that you're not.
A false positive fetal fibronectin result can occur if the test is performed after digital examination of the cervix or after having had intercourse. Thus it is important that the swab be taken before a digital cervical exam is performed.
See also
References
- ^ Lockwood CJ, Senyei AE, Dische MR; et al. (1991). "Fetal fibronectin in cervical and vaginal secretions as a predictor of preterm delivery". N. Engl. J. Med. 325 (10): 669–74. PMID 1870640.
{{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in:|author=(help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Honest H, Bachmann LM, Gupta JK, Kleijnen J, Khan KS. Accuracy of cervicovaginal fetal fibronectin test in predicting risk of spontaneous preterm birth: systematic review. BMJ. 2002 Aug 10;325(7359):301. PMID 12169504. Free Full Text.
- ^ Farquharson D, Skoll A. Fetal fibronectin. BCRCP Perspectives, Winter 2004. Available at: http://www.rcp.gov.bc.ca/whatsnew_pdfs/fibronectin.pdf. Accessed on: December 25, 2007.
External links
- Fetal fibronectin - babycenter.com.
- Fibronectin Test - FibronectinTest.co.uk
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