New technology helps identify amniotic fluid leakage

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

Paul Stillman looks at a revolutionary new non-invasive product that detects leaking amniotic fluid 

This new product – AmnioSense^TM – will help midwives to reliably exclude SROM/PROM/P-PROM without the need for speculum testing and provides a much more convenient, unobtrusive and less costly alternative to referring mums-to-be to a hospital setting for checking.

AminoSense will also help mitigate worry for mothers-to-be, while quickly alerting expectant mums and healthcare professionals when there is a more urgent need for attention and action. In fact, AmnioSense is so sensitive that it reacts to as little as 100 microlitres of amniotic fluid – the equivalent of two drops. [1]

Previously, the only way to diagnose leaking amniotic fluid has been via a speculum and swab tests, but now AmnioSense, which is as accurate as hospital examinations* can be used. Clinical studies and an independent evaluation by NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence), have confirmed the accuracy and effectiveness of AmnioSense. What’s more is that a NICE review showed that in two out of five cases AmnioSense enabled an accurate diagnosis without the need for a physical examination of the cervix using a speculum. [2]
How does AmnioSense work?
AmnioSense contains a two-stage diagnostic polymer strip within a panty-liner that can tell if a pregnant woman is leaking amniotic fluid. If the strip in the panty-liner comes into contact with moisture with a pH of more than 6.5, it will turn a blue-green colour. Amniotic fluid has a pH of 6.7 or more, while normal vaginal secretions are 3.5 to 4.5.

The strip is also able to eliminate any false readings caused by incontinence. Though the pH of urine ranges from 4.0 to 8 3 , it also contains ammonia. The AmnioSense strip has reagents, which react differently to ammonia, and if the liner does change colour due to urine, it will then fade within 10 minutes. If the wetness is due to amniotic fluid the blue-green colour will remain for at least two hours.
Community Midwife, Emma Herbert who has been trialling AmnioSense with 15 mums to be so far says: “AmnioSense gives women control by providing a simple, effective, trustworthy and non-invasive test which allows them to differentiate between a pregnancy niggle and a potentially serious pregnancy complication.
“For professionals, AmnioSense gives the reassurance that a leak is not caused by amniotic fluid, without the need for an intimate exam. In addition, as the panty-liner can be worn for up to 12 hours, it is very efficient at detecting small, slow leaks of amniotic fluid. And as the results are stable for at least two hours there is often time for the woman to get to her midwife or doctor and show them the results.”
AmnioSense can be used by women at any stage of their pregnancy who have unidentified vaginal wetness and by those at high risk of premature rupture of membranes.

Find out more at www.amniosense.co.uk

References:

1. http://www.unitconversion.org/volume/microliters-to-drops-conversion.html
2. NICE review, on file
3. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003583.html

*When compared to the most common tests performed in hospital; sterile speculum examination, microscopic ferning test and pH paper test

Staff Writer