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Multiple pregnancy

A comparative study of two immunoassays of maternal placental growth factor

A secondary subgroup analysis of placental growth factor levels in women with dichorionic twin pregnancy demonstrated poor concordance between two immunoassays. This highlights the importance of developing validated clinical cut-offs for automated immunoassay.

Authors
Deirdre Hayes Ryan, Keelin O'Donoghue, Sarah Meaney
Year
2021
Journal Name
Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation
Category
Journal Article
Keywords
Multiple pregnancy
Full Citation
Hayes-Ryan D, O'Donoghue K, McCarthy C, Totorika A, Meaney S. A comparative study of two immunoassays of maternal placental growth factor. Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation. 2021;81(3):167-172. https://doi.org/10.1080/00365513.2021.1908589.
Link to Publication
https://doi.org/10.1080/00365513.2021.1908589

Abstract

A blood test measuring levels of a protein called placental growth factor (PlGF) can show how well a placenta is functioning during pregnancy, and can help to rule out pre-eclampsia, a blood pressure disorder in pregnancy, before signs or symptoms develop especially in early pregnancy. There are several different tests available to measure PlGF levels. The aim of this study was to highlight the importance of developing appropriate reference ranges and levels for the tests that measure PlGF levels, by comparing the results obtained from two different tests that measure PlGF levels. An analysis was performed on a group of samples collected for another study on women with non-identical twin pregnancy. These women had a blood sample taken at a single point in their pregnancy. The blood sample was stored and later analysed. The PlGF levels that were measured by the two different tests were signficantly different, with one test recording significantly more levels at a lower value than the other test. Different tests can measure the same protein at different levels. It is important for lab scientists to be aware of this so that tests can be programmed to provide the most accurate results for clinicians.

Pregnancy Loss Research Group

Pregnancy Loss Research Group, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University College Cork, Fifth Floor, Cork University Maternity Hospital, Wilton, Cork, T12 YE02, Ireland,

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