Evaluation of an external fetal electrocardiogram monitoring system: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: The objective of the study was to compare interpretability of 2 intrapartum abdominal fetal heart rate-monitoring strategies. We hypothesized that an external fetal electrocardiography monitoring system, a newer technology using wireless abdominal pads, would generate more interpretable fetal heart rate data compared with standard external Doppler fetal heart rate monitoring (standard external monitoring).

Study Design: We conducted a randomized controlled trial at 4 Utah hospitals.

Effect of blood contamination on amniotic fluid detection using immunoassays.

To determine the accuracy of Actim PROM, Amnisure, and ROM Plus tests for detecting amniotic fluid proteins in the setting of blood contamination. IGFBP-1 and AFP are proteins present in high concentrations in amniotic fluid, and are detected by three commercially-available immunoassays used for diagnosing ruptured membranes: Actim PROM, Amnisure, and ROM Plus. We used whole blood samples and diluted these with amniotic fluid (containing known concentrations of amniotic fluid proteins) to whole blood levels of 50, 20, 10, 5, and 1%.