Simplified biophysical profile: An antepartum fetal screening test

A total of 330 high-risk pregnant women with gestational ages of 32-42 week s were followed until delivery using the biophysical profile (BPP) and a sc reening test consisting of the amniotic fluid index together with fetal aco ustic stimulation under ultrasound M-mode scanning. The test was compared w ith the BPP and nonstress test (NST) for predicting abnormal outcome. The s ensitivities of the BPP, NST and the proposed test were 100, 98.4 and 100%, respectively, the negative predictive values were 100, 99.4 and 100%, whil e the false-positive rates were 21.3, 39.3 and 67%. Our simplified biophysi cal testing method is suggested to be a good negative preliminary screening test, while positive results require further fetal testing methods. This t est reduced the need for BPP in many high-risk patients and had the advanta ges of simplicity, low cost and less time consumption.