The Value of a Single Fetal Fibronectin Assay as a Screen for Preterm Labor and Delivery

Accuracy of fetal fibronectin for assessing preterm birth risk in asymptomatic pregnant women: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…When in a certain population there are significant numbers of individuals in whom the condition has not been tested (such as in a low‐risk obstetric population), the number of those correctly identified as having the condition or not, is described by the specificity of the test . However, using fFN as a single screening test in pregnant women without any risk factors for PTB is unlikely to be feasible or acceptable . It is more likely that fFN could be used in combination with other predictors of PTB (for example cervical length measurement) to increase the odds of detecting women at risk of PTB .…”

“…A previous report suggested that positive fFN results between 24 and 28 gestational weeks are helpful in identifying women at high risk of PTB during the a period of time where the neonatal morbidity and mortality is high. Our systematic review did not look at testing of fFN within these gestational ages as a subgroup and therefore we cannot make any recommendations as to whether testing of women with risk factors at these gestations affects outcomes.…”

Accuracy of cervico-vaginal fetal fibronectin test in predicting the risk of spontaneous preterm birth—a systematic review

“…Metaregression analysis showed that the accuracy of the test did not depend on the method of testing, how often the test was done, or classification of risk. As for asymptomatic women, the accuracy of the in predicting sponGarcia (1999) 71 Greenhagen (1996) 72 Di Stefano (1999) 27 Zamora (2000) 73 Chang (1997) 25 Roubille (1999) 84 Nageotte (1994) 66 Nageotte (1994) 66 Bittar (1996) 23 Bittar (1996) 23 Nageotte (1994) 66 Oliveira (1998) 67 Nageotte (1994) 66 Leeson (1996) 61 Leeson (1996) 61 Krems (1995) 69 Goldenberg (2000) 77 Lockwood (1993) 80 Tolino (1996) 41 Lockwood (1993) 80 Tolino (1996) 41 Goldenberg (1997) 76 Wennerholm (1997) 94 Goldenberg (1996) 75 Hellemans (1995) 43 Crane (1999) 44 Faron (1997) 42 Hux (1995) 78 Inglis (1994) 79 Crane (1999) 44 Vercoustre (1996) Figure 9 shows the summary receiver operating characteristic curve for symptomatic women. Figures 10, 11, and 12 give details of individual results used to create the summary curve.…”

“…Eight studies examined the use of fibronectin as a screening tool in low risk pregnancy and nine as a selective screening tool in high risk pregnancy. Most studies 75 Goldenberg (1996) 75 Goldenberg (1996) 75 Goldenberg (1996) 75 Chang (1997) 25 Nageotte (1994) 66 Oliveira (1998) 67 Morrison (1996) 40 Morrison (1996) 40 Goldenberg (2000) 77 Heath (2000) 45 Tolino (1996) 41 Goldenberg (1997) 76 Wennerholm (1997) 94 Goldenberg (1996) Tolino (1996) 41 Wennerholm (1997) 94 Hux (1995) 78 Overall (95% CI) were carried out during the second trimester or early in the third trimester. Meta-regression analysis showed the accuracy of the test did not depend on the method of testing, how often the test was done, classification of risk, or gestation at testing.…”