title: Fetal fibronectin test on Chinese women with symptoms of preterm labour: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The fetal fibronectin test is advocated to facilitate the management of women presenting with threatened preterm labour, but is underutilised in Hong Kong. This study aimed to provide experience with this test and evaluate its utility in a local setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A university-affiliated hospital in Hong Kong.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women presenting with symptoms of preterm labour were recruited from 1 January 2011 to 30 June 2012.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the fetal fibronectin test to predict delivery within 24 hours, 48 hours, 7 days, and 14 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 22 women were recruited; 12 (55%) of whom had a negative fetal fibronectin test, none of whom delivered within 7 days; six received corticosteroids and tocolysis, one of whom delivered within 14 days. The 10 remaining women had a positive fetal fibronectin test. Five of whom delivered within 7 days and two within 14 days; all of them had received corticosteroids and tocolysis. For predicting delivery within 7 days, the sensitivity and negative predictive value of the test were both 100%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study demonstrated the high negative predictive value of the fetal fibronectin test in our local setting, which suggests that it should be utilised more readily in women presenting with threatened preterm labour.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Ngu
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000032:analysis*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006723:Hong Kong; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000378:metabolism*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D015149:Tocolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: C403421:FFN protein, human; D005353:Fibronectins; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D015149:Tocolytic Agents
keywords: Cervical length measurement; Fibronectins; Obstetric labor, premature; Predictive value of tests