Diagnosis of premature rupture of membranes with an improved alpha-fetoprotein monoclonal antibody kit.

Abstract

We developed a new kit for detecting alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in leaked amniotic fluid (Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 1995;58:67-72). Later, we developed an improved AFP kit utilizing the same AFP monoclonal antibody. We compared this improved AFP test with the nitrazine test for 137 patients. The nitrazine test correctly diagnosed 62.1% of the cases, but the improved AFP kit diagnosed 98.0% for < 37 weeks of gestation (P < 0.001). The nitrazine test showed a specificity of 58.3%, whereas the AFP kit showed a 100% rate for detecting > or = 37 weeks of gestation (P < 0.01). The reaction time with the AFP kit is 90 s. This study has confirmed a high clinical efficacy of the improved AFP test kit as a method of diagnosis of premature rupture of fetal membranes.

• Authors: T Kishida, A Hirao, T Matsuura, T Katamine, H Yamada, T Sagawa, S Fujimoto
• Journal: Clinical chemistry (Clin Chem) Vol. 41 Issue 10 Pg. 1500-3 (Oct 1995) ISSN: 0009-9147 [Print] England
• PMID: 7586524 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
• alpha-Fetoproteins

Topics

• Amniotic Fluid (chemistry)
• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Female
• Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture (diagnosis)
• Gestational Age
• Humans
• Pregnancy
• Reagent Kits, Diagnostic (statistics & numerical data)
• Reproducibility of Results
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• alpha-Fetoproteins (analysis)