title: Fasting plasma glucose test at the first prenatal visit as a screen for gestational diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether the fasting plasma glucose test administered at the first prenatal visit could serve as an efficient screen for gestational diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 5557 women not known to have diabetes were offered a fasting plasma glucose test at their first prenatal visit. Results less than 100 mg/dL were blinded. A glucose tolerance test was requested immediately of those whose screening test result was 100-125 mg/dL and of all women not identified as having diabetes by their 23rd gestational week.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 4507 women (81%) complied with the protocol. Of the 302 women found to have gestational diabetes, 46 (15%) were detected before 24 weeks. A false-positive rate of 57% was found at a threshold fasting glucose concentration giving a sensitivity of 80% for the detection of gestational diabetes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The fasting plasma glucose screening test at the first prenatal visit has good patient compliance. However, its poor specificity (high false-positive rate) makes it an inefficient screening test for gestational diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaiser Foundation Hospital, Bellflower, California 90740, USA. david.a.sacks@kp.org
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Sacks
authors.forename: Wansu
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Girma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wolde-Tsadik
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Buchanan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity