What does the FFN test consist of?

Is this a vaginal swab? or a blood test?

how accurate are they?

my dr said that they are 99% accurate on the positives and 95% on the neg results?

what is your expirence?

 

Hi, a fetal fibernectin is a vaginal swab. I've had 5 so far because of PTL contractions. My doctor told me it was the other way around, a negative result was MUCH more accurate than a positive. A negative result means you will not have the babies for another 2 weeks, it's almost a guarentee. A positive result is iffy, it doesn't necessarily mean that the babies will be born soon. All of mine have been negative so far.

 

Vag swab. My Dr. told me about the same.. He said that it will just make us feel a little better. He said that if its neg.. it doesnt mean that i wont go into labor.. He also said that if i get a positive, it doesnt mean that i will go into labor. Hes been doing mine since about 26 weeks. and my next one at 32 weeks will be the last one that he does..

 

It is a vaginal swab. No offense meant but I think your doctor has their numbers incorrect. From what I was told a negative means you will most likely not deliver within the next two weeks. A positve result means practically nothing meaning they really have no clue as to when you may go into labor. Could be tomorrow or like me 6 weeks later. I had two FFN tests 1 at 31 weeks and one a couple weeks later. Both came back positive yet I did not deliver until 37 weeks 1 day.


ETA. Here is a link from www.labtestonline.com which better explains the test and what the results mean. HTH

http://www.labtestsonline.org/understandin...s/ffn/test.html

 

I had several while pregnant with the twins. It is a swab and feels much like a Pap Smear. All mine were negative, which is suppose to mean that you have a 99% chance to making it 2 more weeks. Unfortunately 4 days after my last, one I caught a stomach bug and delivered my babies. Just make sure to continue to pay attention to your body even if you get a negative one.

 

QUOTE(first_time_mommy_2_be_twins @ Jul 10 2007, 04:22 AM) [snapback]323998[/snapback]
It is a vaginal swab. No offense meant but I think your doctor has their numbers incorrect. From what I was told a negative means you will most likely not deliver within the next two weeks. A positve result means practically nothing meaning they really have no clue as to when you may go into labor. Could be tomorrow or like me 6 weeks later. I had two FFN tests 1 at 31 weeks and one a couple weeks later. Both came back positive yet I did not deliver until 37 weeks 1 day.
ETA. Here is a link from www.labtestonline.com which better explains the test and what the results mean. HTH

http://www.labtestsonline.org/understandin...s/ffn/test.html


Yup...a negative is a pretty strong indicator that you will not go into labor within two weeks (you can never say never, you know) and a positive basically means nothing. Also, remember that this is a test designed for a singleton pregnancy and it is pretty much untested in multiple gestations. It may or may not even be valid for twin pregnancies. But it's one out of many pieces of information our doctors use to manage our pregnancy. You definately don't want a physician to create a game plan on this test alone.

 

thanks ladies...

I may have mixed the % up in my post..she was throwing all kinds of tests at me..lol She did say that they are wanting all neg..lol

I will be having them done every 2 weeks from now on..Doesnt seem like i should be this close and having to worry about going into labor...Though I really dont think I will go all that early..I would be one that could carry twins to 41 weeks..lmao

thanks again everyone...

 

I started getting the every other week fFNs at 24 wks also. Like pp, it's a lot like a PAP, only I think the speculum hurts a bit more in pregnancy than before...just a forewarning. It's quick though so that's good.

My doc always stressed that a neg was a good thing....typically only 1% or so go on to deliver in the following 2 weeks after a neg. The pos was something he didn't really care about, except that it may alter their treatment plan. My first bout of PTL came right after a neg fFN, so even though they treated me for it (ie Terbutaline, Mag Sulfate, steroid injections, hospitalized for 5 days, etc), they did not think I'd deliver. My 2nd bout of PTL came after a POS fFN, so this time I was transferred to a hospital that had a NICU (ours only has a SCN, for babies over 34 wks) JUST IN CASE & kept there until 34 wks. That being said, my pos fFN was at 32w4d & I'm almost 36w, so it doesn't mean you WILL deliver. It just may make your doctor more cautious.

I personally LIKED having the fFNs done because the negatives reassured me for 2 weeks . My mom went into PTL with me & my brother (at 20w with me & 28w with him) so I was super worried it'd be genetic. Guess not, as even off meds & bedrest, these boys don't appear to be coming any time soon!!! LOL.

On a side note, most docs don't keep women medicated after 34-35 wks....is your doc planning on keeping you on the Nifedipine much longer (since you're already so close to 34w)? I stopped mine at 34w1d.

GL to you!