Description

Simple, reliable testing to assess a patient’s risk of preterm birth: The Rapid fFN^® test.

Improving women’s health is at the core of Hologic’s technology and products. One essential pillar in the Hologic Diagnostic Solutions portfolio is perinatal testing. The Rapid fFN test is a safe, reliable, and non-invasive test that can help providers determine a pregnant woman’s risk of delivering preterm.

The use of fetal fibronectin (fFN) testing can help reduce unnecessary admissions and hospitalizations and help direct care and resources to patients who need it most.

Preterm birth is on the rise

Preterm birth is defined as a birth before 37 weeks gestation. In the United States, 1 out of 10 births are preterm.¹  The preterm birth rate in the United States has been rising in recent years and preterm birth is the leading cause of death in infants.² Additionally, babies born prematurely may have more health problems at birth than babies born at term.³ While some problems of preterm birth can be treated, others can cause long-term developmental problems or learning disabilities.⁴ With proper knowledge of preterm birth risk and provider-driven planning, many of these threats can be better managed.

Fetal Fibronectin: A powerful predictor of preterm birth

fFN is an adhesive glycoprotein found at the maternal-fetal interface which functions like a glue to bind the baby to the uterus during fetal development.⁵ fFN is generally absent in vaginal secretions during weeks 16 to 35 of gestation, so if fetal fibronectin is detectable in vaginal discharge during pregnancy weeks 22-35, it means that the protein is “leaking.” This can alert healthcare providers that the patient is at risk of preterm birth.⁵  Likewise, the absence of fFN is very reassuring, because even if a patient is experiencing symptoms of preterm labor such as contractions or cramping, a negative fFN test indicates a less than 1% risk of delivery in the next 14 days.⁵

True preterm labor is very difficult to diagnose. In fact, only about 10% of women with a clinical diagnosis of preterm labor actually go on to deliver within 7 days.⁶ fFN testing is an objective tool that can help healthcare providers identify which women with symptoms of preterm labor are at very low risk of an imminent preterm delivery and can safely be discharged and which are at higher risk and should be admitted and receive interventions.

The Rapid fFN test is FDA approved for use in symptomatic patients between 24⁰ and 34⁶ weeks gestation and for asymptomatic patients between 22⁰ and 30⁶ weeks gestation.⁵

A negative fFN test result helps give healthcare providers confidence that preterm birth is not imminent. And a positive fFN test result offers multiple benefits as well, including opportunities to better manage care for patients who are at increased risk for preterm delivery, and helps ensure critical interventions are administered.

The healthcare benefits of fFN testing

The Rapid fFN test is one of several tools that help providers determine the best course of action for patients with symptoms of preterm labor. Benefits of fFN testing include increased efficiencies, without compromising clinical outcomes. These benefits are achieved through:

• Timely and appropriate interventions, such as antenatal steroids and magnesium sulfate, and likewise avoidance of unnecessary interventions for those at lower risk.
• Avoidance of unnecessary hospitalizations. One study showed that the average length of stay for patients with symptoms of preterm labor was reduced from 5.2 days to just 0.6 days after fFN testing was adopted.⁷
• Effective transfer of patients at high risk of imminent preterm birth to a hospital with an appropriate NICU.

To learn more about the Rapid fFN test, visit fFNTest.com.

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References: 1. Centers for Disease Control. Preterm Birth. https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternalinfanthealth/pretermbirth.htm. Updated June 26, 2017. Accessed May 21, 2020. 2. March of Dimes. Preterm Birth Increases in the U.S. For The First Time in Eight Years. http://www.marchofdimes.org/news/preterm-birth-increases-in-the-us-for-the-first-time-in-eight-years.aspx. Accessed May 21, 2020. 3. March of Dimes. Long-Term Health Effects of Premature Birth. https://www.marchofdimes.org/complications/long-term-health-effects-of-premature-birth.aspx Reviewed October 2013. Accessed May 21, 2020. 4. March of Dimes. Premature Babies. http://www.marchofdimes.org/complications/premature-babies.aspx. Reviewed October 2013. Accessed May 21, 2020.  5. Rapid fFN for the TLi_IQ System [package insert]. AW-04196-002, Rev. 004.  6. ACOG. Preterm Labor and Birth. https://www.acog.org/patient-resources/faqs/labor-delivery-and-postpartum-care/preterm-labor-and-birth. Accessed May 21, 2020.  7. Abenhaim HA, et al. Does availability of fetal fibronectin testing in the management of threatened preterm labour affect the utilization of hospital resources? J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2005;27(7):689-94. doi:10.1016/S1701-2163(16)30547-3.