Home
HelpTest Code LAB5077 Fetal Fibronectin
Performing Laboratory
Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center / Asante Three Rivers Medical Center
Specimen Minimum Volume
1.0 mL fluid
Billing Code
2071629
Methodology
Monoclonal Antibody-Based Immunoassay
Specimen Requirements
Cervicovaginal secretions
Buffer tube/Dacron swab from Adeza Biomedical Specimen Collection
Kit
DO NOT COLLECT SAMPLES USING WOODEN SHAFT, COTTON TIP SWABS OR ANY OTHER UNAPPROVED SAMPLING DEVICE.
Indicate weeks of gestation on request.
Collection from Symptomatic Women:
The specimen should be obtained from the posterior fornix of
the
vagina during a sterile speculum examination. The Dacron
swab
provided in the Specimen Collection Kit should be inserted into
the
vagina and lightly rotated across the posterior fornix for
approximately 10 seconds to absorb the cervicovaginal
secretions.
Collection from Asymptomatic Women: The specimen can
be
obtained from either the posterior fornix of the vagina or the
ectocervical region of the external cervical os during a
sterile
speculum examination. The Dacron swab provided in the
Specimen Collection Kit should be inserted into the vagina and
lightly rotated across the posterior fornix or around the
ectocervical region of the external cervical os for
approximately
10 seconds to absorb the cervicovaginal secretions.
SPECIMENS SHOULD BE OBTAINED PRIOR TO DIGITAL CERVICAL EXAMINATION OR VAGINAL PROBE ULTRASOUND EXAMINATION AS MANIPULATION OF THE CERVIX MAY CAUSE THE RELEASE OF FETAL FIBRONECTIN.
Day(s) Test Set Up
Monday through Sunday
Performed daily upon specimen receipt; results are phoned.
Test Classification and CPT Coding
82731 Fetal fibronectin, cervicovaginal secretions, semi-quantitative.
Additional Information
Use: Fetal fibronectin can be
detected in cervicovaginal secretions of women throughout
pregnancy. Fetal fibronectin is elevated in
cervicovaginal
secretions during the first 24 weeks of pregnancy but
diminishes
between 24 and 34 weeks in normal pregnancies. The
significance of its presence in the vagina during the first 24
weeks of pregnancy is not understood. However, it may
simply
reflect the normal growth of the extravillous trophoblast
population and the placenta. Detection of FFN in
cervicovaginal secretions between 24 and 34
completed weeks’ gestation is reported to be associated
with
preterm delivery in symptomatic and asymptomatic pregnant
women.
Positive result: ≥50 ng/mL FFN
Among symptomatic women, elevated levels (≥50 ng/mL) of
FFN between 24 weeks, 0 days and 34
weeks, 6 days, indicate increased risk of delivery in ≤14
days
from sample collection. Similarly, among asymptomatic
women,
elevated levels of FFN between 22 weeks,
0 days and 30 weeks, 6 days indicated increased risk of delivery
in
≤34 weeks, 6 days of gestation.
The FFN result should not be interpreted
as absolute evidence of the presence or absence of a process
that
will result in delivery in ≤7 or ≤14 days from
specimen
collection in symptomatic women.
Specimen Transport Temperature and Stability
Transport at 2° – 25° C within 8 hours.
Stability: Store at 2° - 8° C up to 3
days.
Stable 3 months at -20° C.
Specimen subject to rejection due to inadequate labeling;
specimens collected in or by any sampling device other than the
Adeza Biomedical Specimen Collection Kit; unfrozen samples
>3
days old; samples received at temperatures > 25°C,
sample
contamination.
Performing Department
Hematology