Diagnostic accuracy of PremaQuick in detection of preterm labor in symptomatic women

Abstract

Objectives: Failure to identify women at risk of preterm labor (PTL) leads to failure to implement standard measures. This study designed to evaluate the accuracy of PremaQuick test in detection of PTL in women presented with threatened preterm labor (TPTL). Material and methods: One hundred and twenty-two (122) pregnant women, singleton pregnancy, < 37 weeks, admitted with TPTL included in this study, and were compared to 122 controls. After thorough evaluation, participants were examined using sterile vaginal speculum for cervico-vaginal fluid (CVF) sampling, and PremaQuick test. The CVF sampling was followed by trans-vaginal sonographic (TVS) assessment of cervical length (CL). Participants were managed according to hospitals policy thorough their admission, and after discharge in the ante-natal clinics till delivery. After delivery, the delivery data were compared by the recorded participants data on admission. Results: The PremaQuick test had 95.1% sensitivity, 97.5% specificity, 97.5% positive predictive value, 95.2% negative predictive value, and 96.3% accuracy in detection of PTL. The PremaQuick had significantly higher true negative rate, specificity, positive predictive value, and overall accuracy in detection of PTL compared to CL < 25 mm (p = 0.005, 0.005, 0.01, 0.002; respectively). Conclusions: The PremaQuick is an accurate bedside test in detection of PTL in women presented with TPTL. It had 95.1% sensitivity, 97.5% specificity, 97.5% positive predictive value, 95.2% negative predictive value, and 96.3% overall accuracy in detection of PTL. The PremaQuick had significantly higher true negative rate, specificity, positive predictive value, and overall accuracy in detection of PTL compared to CL < 25 mm.