Focus on Preterm Labour and Foetal Fibronectin (fFN)

58,000 babies are born prematurely in the UK every year, meaning that that 1 in every 13 babies born in the UK will be born premature (before 37 weeks of pregnancy). Most of these preterm births occur between 32 and 36 weeks, with around 13,500 (2%) births occurring before 32 weeks.

🟠 The latest data shows that the number of babies born premature is increasing:

🟠 The overall percentage of preterm live births increased from 7.4% in 2020 to 7.6% in 2021

🟠 Babies from the Black ethnic group have had the highest proportion of preterm births since data collection began in 2007.

🟠 In 2021, 8.7% of live births in the Black ethnic group were preterm births.

🟠 Between 2020 and 2021, the biggest percentage increase in preterm live births was in the Asian ethnic group, from 7.5% to 8.1%. (bliss.org.uk)

❓𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿 (𝗣𝗧𝗟)?

Preterm birth is birth that occurs before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. It usually follows spontaneous preterm labour, which may be preceded by preterm pre-labour rupture of membranes. However, of all women experiencing preterm birth, around 25% give birth following iatrogenic intervention (induction of labour or planned caesarean section), which is given with the aim of preventing risk to the mother or baby from complications of pregnancy.

Preterm birth is associated with a range of adverse outcomes for the baby. These include increased rates of perinatal death, (neonatal morbidity (including respiratory distress syndrome, intra- ventricular haemorrhage and necrotising enterocolitis [an inflammation that can cause parts of the bowel to die]) and long- term compromise. The main areas affected in the long term are the neurological system (which can result in, for example, cerebral palsy, lower educational attainment) and respiratory system (for example, bronchopulmonary dysplasia). The risk of adverse outcomes occurring is inversely proportional to length of gestation. Therefore, infants born extremely preterm (before 28 weeks) have significantly worse outcomes than those born moderately preterm (34–37 weeks). (NICE Preterm labour and birth final scope April 2013.)

❓𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿?

Spontaneous preterm birth has many possible causes. Preterm labour is associated with intrauterine infection, and organisms such as Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis, Gardnerella vaginalis, peptostreptococci, and bacteroides are commonly implicated. These organisms, which often live in the vagina, are not normally considered to be harmful. However, it is thought that if they gain access to the uterus, this might initiate preterm labour and birth. In some women, preterm labour is associated with a known pregnancy-related risk factor such as antepartum haemorrhage, or multiple pregnancy. However, the mechanisms by which preterm labour and birth occur are not clearly understood. In most women, there is no obvious cause and a diagnosis of idiopathic preterm labour is made. Maternal disease (for example, pre-eclampsia and diabetes) or foetal conditions (such as foetal growth restriction) can also prompt planned preterm birth (by induction of labour or planned caesarean section).

✅ 𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱

NICE Guideline 25: Preterm Labour and Birth, recommends that healthcare professionals should “Consider foetal fibronectin testing as a diagnostic test to determine likelihood of birth within 48 hours for women who are 30+0 weeks pregnant or more. If foetal fibronectin testing is positive, view the woman as being in diagnosed preterm labour and offered treatment.

✔️ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝗛𝗥 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝘀𝘆𝗻𝗲𝘅 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝘀:

➡️ 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙓® 𝙛𝙤𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙁𝙞𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣 (𝙛𝙁𝙉) 𝙏𝙚𝙨𝙩

HealthcheX® foetal Fibronectin (fFN) Test is a test that can be performed by a vaginal swab to estimate the risk of preterm labour by measuring the fFN in vaginal fluid. The fFN Rapid Test is a simple and accurate in vitro test for qualitative detection of fFN.

The immunochromatographic test can detect fFN at 25ng/mL and above a high sensitivity and specificity.

When the sample is applied to the test cassette, it reacts with the antibodies impregnated on the membrane and moves up via lateral flow/capillary action. If fFN is present in the sample, a coloured band appears on the test region indicating positive.

HealthcheX® foetal Fibronectin (fFN) Test cassette can be used almost anywhere to detect if preterm delivery is likely to occur in pregnant women between 24 and 34 weeks gestation.

HealthcheX® foetal Fibronectin (fFN) Test from BHR Biosynex gives you:

🟠 A test that can be read within minutes

🟠 No refrigeration required