The test is the most accurate one to date and provides the earliest detection of premature birth, with 86 per cent accuracy in determining mothers at risk of early delivery.
Mitigating risk for preterm birth is important because premature birth remains the main cause of child-related mortality in the developed world. Preterm birth occurs in five to 10 per cent of all pregnancies, but is associated with 70% of all newborn deaths (excluding genetic anomalies) and up to 75% of newborn disease including cerebral palsy, blindness, deafness, respiratory illness and complications of neonatal intensive care.
The study was published today, June 22, 2016 in PLOS one , and was led by Dr. Jan Heng (former post-doc at Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute and currently at Harvard Medical School), and recently named Scotiabank Scientist in Child and Adolescent Development Health Research, Professor Stephen Lye (Senior Investigator, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute and University of Toronto) as well as Professor Suzanne Tough ( University of Calgary).
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