Protein testing in pregnancy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Protein testing in Pregnancy
IRAS ID
179582
Contact name
Katherine L Tucker
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundations Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 2 days
Research summary
Apart from blood pressure measurement, analysis of the urine for protein (urinalysis) is the most commonly performed antenatal screening test and is central to the diagnosis of pre-eclampsia. Pre-eclampsia can lead to eclampsia – a condition with a high maternal mortality rate.
Standard care in the UK utilises urinalysis reagent strips (a visually read enzymatic test), to detect protein in urine samples. The reagent strip is dipped into a urine sample removed and read. The use of standard proteinuria testing sticks means that self-testing could be more readily incorporated into clinical diagnostic pathways. We are interested in whether pregnant women are able to carry out testing for protein using standard dipsticks at a level of accuracy approaching that of health professionals involved in antenatal care.
Pregnant women will be asked to test some synthetic samples for protein content using standard dipsticks. Women will also be given a short (3 Question) questionnaire and blank post card to write their views on self-testing during pregnancy if they wish.
We will also ask health professionals involved in antenatal care to test the same samples so we can compare the accuracy of the pregnant women to the healthcare professionals. The healthcare professionals will also be given a short (3 question) questionnaire and a chance to provide a free text comment. The questionnaires and free text will be collected back in blank envelopes following completion on the day or posted back to the department in a pre-paid envelope.
The proposed work aims to evaluate whether protein testing by pregnant women themselves might be feasible.
Women will be approached while attending antenatal care appointments and asked to test the samples while on site, we estimate that this will take about 10-15 minutes. This short study will not impact on participants usual antennal care.
REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
15/NI/0157
Date of REC Opinion
24 Jul 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion