S. Abasalizadeh  , F. Abasalizadeh  , F. Sahaf  , 
    Cervicovaginal  -HCG Test in Prediction of Spontaneous Preterm Delivery among Normal Pregnant Women,
    Research Journal of Biological Sciences,
    Volume 2,Issue 6,
    2007,
    Pages 630-633,
    ISSN 1815-8846,
    rjbsci.2007.630.633,
    (https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=rjbsci.2007.630.633)
    Abstract: The chance of predicting a preterm delivery may be the keystone to preventing or at least best management of it. The aim of our study, was to test the possibility of using vaginal  -HCG level measurement to predict the spontaneous preterm delivery. In this prospective study, 150 pregnant women referred for prenatal care to Asadabadi university hospital clinic were studied. At a gestational age of 20-28 weeks, a cotton tip swab was placed into the endocervix and posterior vaginal fornix and sent to laboratory for  -HCG measurement. Data were entered into the computer and analyzed using SPSS 11 and medcalc 8 Statistical software packages. Mean age of participants was 26 years (&plusmn;25.9). Mean gestational age at time of sampling was 25 weeks. The relative risk of developing a preterm delivery for those having a vaginal  -HCG above 30 mIU mL <SUP>1</SUP> was calculated to be  2.61  (95%  CI:  1.25-5.5). The relative risk of developing a preterm delivery for vaginal  -HCG level above 45 mIU mL <SUP>1</SUP> was 4.5 (95% CI: 1.98-10.1). The test for a cutoff value of 45 was quite specific and half sensitive with a negative predictive value of 95.4%. A cervicovaginal  -HCG test with a cutt off value of 45 mIU mL <SUP>1</SUP> can predict the preterm delivery, but a combination screening of cervicovaginal  -HCG test along with clinical risk factor scoring for preterm delivery is suggested to be used in clinical practice.
    Keywords: Preterm delivery;&szlig;-HCG test;sensitivity;specificity