Screening method for identifying women at increased risk for imminent delivery
AssigneeAdeza Biomedical Corporation
InventorsAndrew E. Senyei, David C. Casal
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides an early, biochemical indication of increased risk of impending preterm delivery. The method comprises obtaining a cervicovaginal secretion sample from a pregnant patient after week 12 of gestation and determining the level of a local inflammatory product protein in the sample. The presence of an elevated level of the selected protein in the sample indicates an increased risk of delivery. The test is a screening assay that can detect women at risk of imminent delivery, as early as two to three weeks prior to delivery.
Claims9
A method of screening for an increased risk of impending delivery comprising:
- a) obtaining a secretion sample from the vaginal cavity or the cervical canal of a pregnant patient after week 12 of pregnancy;
- and
- b) determining the level of IL-6 in the sample, the presence of an elevated level of IL-6 in the sample indicating an increased risk of impending delivery.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.