Can fetal fibronectin test results prevent preterm birth? To assess the effectiveness of management of pregnant women based on a knowledge of fetal fibronectin test results for preventing preterm birth, compared with not having that knowledge. Fetal fibronectin (FFN) acts as a ‘glue’ between the pregnancy and the uterus. Normally very low levels of FFN can be found in secretions of the vagina and cervix.
What is fetal fibronectin (fFN)? Fetal fibronectin (fFN) is a protein produced during pregnancy. It is produced by cells at the border of the amniotic sac and the mother’s uterus, attaching the amniotic sac to the uterine lining. The amniotic sac surrounds the developing fetus inside the mother’s uterus.
When does fetal fibronectin break down? Fetal fibronectin also begins to break down and can be detected in vaginal discharge toward the end of pregnancy. If your health care provider is concerned about preterm labor, he or she might test a swab of secretions near your cervix for the presence of fetal fibronectin between week 22 and week 34 of pregnancy.
What does a high fibronectin level mean? Higher fetal fibronectin levels in vaginal fluids between the 22nd and 35th weeks of pregnancy may show a greater likelihood of preterm labor and delivery. This test does not guarantee an early birth.
fetal fibronectin test accuracy
What is a fetal fibronectin test? Why it’s done. The fetal fibronectin test is used to rule out preterm labor. It can provide valuable information if you have signs or symptoms of preterm labor. If the fetal fibronectin test is positive, your health care provider may take steps to address premature birth — such as administering medication to enhance the baby’s lung maturity.
What is the sensitivity and specificity of fetal fibronectin in diagnosing prom? Results: In this study, the sensitivity and the specificity of fetal fibronectin in diagnosing PROM were 94.5 and 89.1 %, respectively, as compared with 84.5 % sensitivity and 78.2 % specificity for Ferning test, respectively, and 87.3 % sensitivity and 80.9 % specificity for Nitrazine test, respectively.
What is the NPV of fetal fibronectin? The PPV and NPV of fetal fibronectin were 89.7 and 94.2 %, respectively, as compared with 79.5 % PPV and 83.5 % NPV for Ferning test, respectively, and 82.1 % PPV and 86.4 % NPV for Nitrazine test, respectively. Fetal fibronectin was more accurate (91.8 %) for detection of PROM than Ferning (81.4 %) or Nitrazine (84.1 %) tests.
What happens if there is no fetal fibronectin? More important, if no fetal fibronectin is found in your sample, it means your risk of giving birth in the next two weeks is very small. You should ask your doctor when to expect your test results, as this can vary from hospital to hospital and office to office.