Saliva Test for Preterm Labor

The World Health Organization estimates that 1 million babies out of 15 million cases, die annually due to preterm birth and about 7% of all pregnant mothers in developing countries give birth prematurely. Preventative measures are not widely taken in these areas because there hasn't been successful ways of early preterm labor identification.

The simple, non-invasive test detects signs of premature labor in pregnant mothers through their saliva. Research shows that a hormone, progesterone, in the saliva is irregularly low in women going into preterm labor. Detecting progesterone levels in pregnant mothers allows for doctors to identify women with high risk of premature birth and to treat accordingly.

• Designed by: University College London, King's College London
• Manufacturer location: United Kingdom

King's College, Tommy's Charity

Maternal and Neonatal Directed Assessment of Technology. (2013). Saliva Test for Preterm Labor. Retrieved November 13 2013 from here.

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. (July 22 2009). Saliva test to identify women at risk of delivering early. Retrieved November 13 2013 from here.