What Is A Fetal Fibronectin Test?

A fFN test measures the presence of fetal fibronectin in vaginal secretions. For women from 22 to 35 weeks of gestation, the test can help you determine if other interventions are necessary, or if she can continue working and performing normal activities.

Preterm birth risk assessment

There are 2 types of assessments that can be made for preterm birth risk: biophysical and biochemical. Biophysical markers include contractions and changes in cervical length that may be precursors of labor. Fetal fibronectin, a biochemical marker, can often be detected before the biophysical markers.

NIH preterm prediction study: Risk factors for preterm birth¹

Fetal fibronectin is the most powerful predictor of preterm birth <32 weeks.¹

Supported by research

In the NIH Preterm Prediction Study of 2929 pregnant women, fFN testing predicted almost two-thirds of the spontaneous preterm births at less than 28 weeks.² In a study of symptomatic women, 99.2% of women with negative fetal fibronectin test results did not deliver in the next 14 days.³

Reliable results with fetal fibronectin testing

References

• 1. Goldenberg RL, Iams JD, Mercer BM, et al. The Preterm Prediction Study: The value of new vs standard risk factors in prediction early and all spontaneous preterm births. Am J Public Health. 1998;88:233-38.
• 2. Goldenberg RL, et al. The Preterm Prediction Study: Fetal fibronectin testing spontaneous preterm birth. Obstet Gynecol. 1996;87:643-8.
• 3. Peaceman AM, Andrews WW, Thorp JM, et al. Fetal fibronectin as predictor of preterm birth in patients with symptoms: A multicenter trial. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1997;177:13-18.